§ Mr. MoateTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list all the motorways in England which are two lanes each way and for which widening plans have not been announced.
§ Mr. AtkinsNo widening plans have been announced for the following sections of dual two-lane trunk motorway:
832W
Motorway Length (miles) M2 Junctions 3–7 21.0 M3 Junction 8–A33 12.5 M4 Junction 1-Boston Manor 3.0 M10 Junction 1–M1 3.0 M18 Junctions 2–5 11.0 M20 Junctions 12–13 1.0 M23 Gatwick link 0.8 M26 9.0 M27 Spurs to A36 (Junction 2) and A33 (Junction 4) 3.5 M41 10.8 M42 Junctions 9–11 13.0 M45 8.0 M50 21.0 M54 M6-Junction 5 and Junction 6–A5 17.0 M56 Junction 3/J4–M63 1.0 M58 Switch Island-Junction 1 2.0 M65 Junctions 8–9 2.0 M66 Edenfield-Junction 2 6.0 M180 Junctions 3–4 7.0 M181 M180–A18 2.5 M271 A3057-Southampton 2.0 M606 M62-Bradford 3.0 M621 Gildersome-Leeds 15.0 A1(M) Darlington-Sunderland 234.0 A1(M) Darlington Bypass 15.5 A1(M) Doncaster Bypass 15.5 A3(M) Bedhampton-Homedean 5.0 A40(M) Wood Lane-Bramley Road and Paddington slip roads-Marylebone Flyover 2.0 A66(M) A1–A66 2.5 A102(M) Blackwall Tunnel-Rochester Way relief road 1.3 A308(M) M4 Junction 9–A4 West of Maidenhead 0.6 A423(M) M4 Junction 9–A308 South of Maidenhead 4.0 A627(M) 4.0 Total 231.5 1Denotes dual 2-lane motorway with short stretches of dual 3-lanes or climbing lanes.
2 "Roads for Prosperity" (Cm. 693) announced a study into the capacity of this section of the A1(M).
§ Mr. MoateTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are his current plans for widening the M2; and what are the statistical bases for his decision to not yet announce plans to make it a three-lane each way motorway for its full length.
§ Mr. AtkinsA scheme for widening the M2 to dual three-lanes between junctions 1 and 3 is programmed. Subject to detailed investigation, it might also provide for the third southbound lane to continue some way beyond junction 3 as a crawler lane.
Taking account of a transfer of Channel-bound traffic to the M20 on its completion, the forecast traffic flows do not justify widening the remainder of M2. The position will be kept under review.