§ Mr. Steenasked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the estimated cost of repairing the Marsh Mills viaduct at Plymouth.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyAbout £500,000 has been spent, largely in the last two years, on repairing the viaducts and on associated works.
37W
§ Mr. Steenasked the Secretary of State for Transport what was the cost of the construction of the Marsh Mills viaduct at Plymouth.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyThe construction cost, in 1969–71, was about £1 million.
§ Mr. Steenasked the Secretary of State for Transport when the Marsh Mills viaduct at Plymouth was built; what is its estimated length of life; whom his Department has commissioned to design the new viaduct; at what cost; and when it is proposed a new viaduct should be constructed.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyThe viaducts were opened in 1971. Alkali-aggregate reaction in the concrete has affected the remaining reliable service life which is now expected to be at least five years, perhaps much more. The condition of the structures is being regularly monitored.
The Department has recently commissioned Mott Hay and Anderson, consulting engineers, to design a new viaduct. It is too early yet to give an estimate of its likely cost or the construction timetable.