§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give details of the amount already paid to contractors for the Chapel-en-le-Frith/Whaley bridge bypass and his estimate of the likely final claims; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyThe amount certified to date for payment to the contractor is £36,187,743.
The outstanding claims for additional payments remain commercial matters between the Department and the contractor until they have been settled.
§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give details of the extraordinary or unexpected localised groundwork conditions encountered during construction of the Chapel-en-le-Frith/Whaley bridge bypass; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. Peter BottomleyThe main problems encountered reflect the particularly difficult and variable geology on the route of the bypass. The road crosses alternating layers of sandstone, shale and mudstones which are overlain by variable depths of glacial clays, sands and gravels, alluvium and industrial fill. In places erosion has produced over steepened slopes which have marginal stability and are prone to landslips.
In particular there were problems with the foundations to the eastern end of the Hayfield road viaduct, difficulties with the construction of the Western lane retaining wall, problems with the stability of the Carley lane embankment and the cutting slope at Silk hill, and greater than anticipated amounts of unsuitable material along the route of the bypass.
§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the report by Allott and Lomax, consultng engineers, into the performance of the consulting engineers employed on the Chapel-en-le-Frith/Whaley bridge bypass; and if he will place a copy in the Library.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyThe report is not yet complete. We shall consider whether it should be placed in the Library at the appropriate time.