§ Mr. Aspinwallasked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has now received the consulting engineers' appraisal of the Severn bridge; and what action he proposes.
§ Mr. David HowellA copy of Flint and Neill's appraisal of the Severn bridge has been placed in the Library. The report concludes that, subject to certain qualifications, the main cables, piers and anchorages are adequate to cope with current traffic loadings. The towers, tower saddles, hangers and rocker boxes will, however, need strengthening to enable them to cope with the highest existing traffic loadings.
The only immediate safety problem has already been dealt with by closing one lane of the bridge in each direction early on weekday mornings. Defects requiring early attention will be remedied as soon as possible. Flint and Neill are now doing additional work on the cost and scope of the further strengthening work needed in the longer term. In consultation with the Secretary of State for Wales, I am reviewing the longer term future for the crossing of the Severn and Wye. This further review should be ready by the end of the year.
Meanwhile, normal maintenance work will continue and it is the intention that, except for the existing early morning lane closures, the Severn crossing will remain fully open to all normal traffic. There may, however, have to be further lane closures as particular remedial work and resurfacing takes place.