§ Mr. Peter Robinsonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what has been the actual cost of the Belfast M1/M2 link road; and what this represents in 1982 prices;
(2) how many houses had to be cleared in order to facilitate the building of the M1/M2 link road; and of these how many were considered to be in sound condition;
(3) what was the estimated cost of the M1/M2 link road when it was being planned;
(4) what length is the M1/M2 link road;
(5) how much was spent on acquiring land and property in connection with the building of the Belfast M1/12 link road; and what would have been the cost of this land and property acquisition at 1982 prices.
§ Mr. David MitchellThe estimated final cost of the M1/M2 link road is £22.5 million. By revaluing all construction costs incurred in previous years the estimated total cost at 1982 prices would have been £24.9 million.
Most of the land was acquired for £6.5 million by the former Belfast city corporation in 1970, though the land between Peter's hill and Clifton street had been acquired earlier as part of a redevelopment scheme. After 13 years it would be impossible, without incurring disproportionate costs, to identify the number and condition of the houses on the proposed route.
The land so acquired was intended to build the proposed Belfast urban motorway, the plans for which envisaged an elevated three-lane dual carriageway with grade separated junctions. In 1969 the estimated costs of this scheme were £23.4 million-rather more than £120 million at 1982 prices. These plans were radically amended both before and at the public inquiry in 1977. The link as constructed is a two-lane dual carriageway mostly at ground level, but with a below street level section and runs for 4.5 km from the end of the M1 at Donegall road to the start of the M2 at Duncrue street.