M1 (Hansard, 25 July 1986)

§ Mr. Pawsey
asked the Secretary of State for Transport if, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Rugby and Kenilworth of 11 December 1985, Official Report, column 658 about the M1 motorway, the review of motorway capacity has now been concluded; when he expects to make an announcement about its findings; what consultants have been engaged in the review; and whether it will be published in full and a copy placed in the Library.

§ Mr. Moore
The examination of motorway capacity is being undertaken by my officials and is continuing. I expect to commence a review of the trunk road construction programme later this year and hope to take account of the examination in that exercise. The results of the programme review will be published in the normal way.

§ Mr. Pawsey
asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list the forecast traffic flows for 1994 and 2004 for the those sections of the M1 between the M25 and M6 assuming completion of the proposed M40; if he will give the design flow range for a three-lane motorway under the revised standards issued recently as departmental standard TD 20/85; and what plans his Department has for relief of the congestion on the M1 after the M40 has been constructed;
(2) if any initial examination has been made of technical requirements in widening any of the M1 between M25 and M45.

§ Mr. Peter Bottomley
The forecast traffic flows for 1994 and 2004 on those sections of M1 between the M25 and M6 (assuming completion of M40) are as follows:

Junctions 1994 2004

6A—8 116—140,000 125—160,000

8—10 108—120,000 116—140,000

10—13 77—96,000 82—110,000

13—15 66—89,000 71—102,000

15—19 58—78,000 62—90,000

512W
The revised departmental standards set as the starting-point in the assessment and design of road carriageways a range of 50,000—79,000 vehicles per (annual average) day for a dual 3-lane motorway.
The review of the capacity of M1 referred to by my predecessor in her replies on 14 November 1985 to my hon. Friend the Member for Rugby and Kenilworth is continuing.

§ Mr. Pawsey
asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give the forecast percentage relief to the M1 due to construction of the M40 at high and low growth traffic levels in 2004.

§ Mr. Peter Bottomley
The forecast is that the relief at either high or low growth will lie in the range 10–19 per cent.

Junctions	1994	2004
6A—8	116—140,000	125—160,000
8—10	108—120,000	116—140,000
10—13	77—96,000	82—110,000
13—15	66—89,000	71—102,000
15—19	58—78,000	62—90,000