§ Mr. Sternasked the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made on the proposed second crossing of the River Severn: and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ChannonTenders have been invited today from selected consultants for the next stage of scheme preparation for this project. We hope to appoint the successful consultant by early October, who will then undertake the detailed investigations and consultations that are necessary in carrying this project forward. The consultant will then have to prepare the plans to suit the engineering and environmental conditions of the route we have already selected, and the funding, contracting and legal procedures that will be appropriate for this large and complex project.
We are on target to provide this crossing by the mid-1990s, if the build-up of traffic across the estuary needs it by then and Parliament so decides.