§ Mr. JannerTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how long he expects the interim improvement scheme at junction 21 of the M 1 motorway to last; what will it cost; and when he expects the full widening and junction improvements at junction 21 to be done and completed; and at what cost.
§ Mr. AtkinsThe interim improvement of junction 21 would accommodate normal traffic growth until the late 1990s. However, proposals for major developments close to the junction could reduce this by about five years. The interim improvement is intended to relieve congestion and improve safety for motorway traffic. The estimated cost is £1.008 million.
The long-term improvement of junction 21 is part of the scheme for widening and junction improvements on the M l included in the White Paper "Roads for Prosperity". The known pressures at the junction will be monitored and taken into account in assessing the timing of the junction 21 element of this major project. The budget cost of the long-term improvement is £10 million, although the eventual cost will depend on a layout to be determined from further detailed traffic and economic analysis.