§ Mr. LewisTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many route options were produced by consultants in respect of the M6 to M56 section of the proposed Greater Manchester western and northern relief road.
§ Mr. AtkinsFive. All but one were eventually rejected for environmental reasons.
§ Mr. LewisTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the total length of new motorway envisaged in each section of the Greater Manchester western and northern relief road, M6 to M56, M56 to M62 and M62 to M66.
§ Mr. AtkinsThe information is as follows
M6 to M56—6 milesM56 to M62; M62 to M66—It is too early in the planning process to say what lengths of new motorways are envisaged.
§ Mr. LewisTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the total length of road widening to existing roads envisaged in each section of the Greater Manchester western and northern relief road, M6 to M56, M56 to M62 and M62 to M66.
§ Mr. AtkinsThe information is as follows
M6 to M56—NoneM56 to M62; M62 to M66—It is too early in planning process to quantify the total length of existing roads to be widened.
§ Mr. LewisTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the consultants' brief in respect of the Greater Manchester western and northern relief road includes consideration of a new motorway crossing of the Manchester ship canal.
§ Mr. AtkinsYes.
§ Mr. LewisTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the road widening of the M62 between junctions 12 and 18 is regarded as part of the proposed Greater Manchester western and northern relief road.
§ Mr. AtkinsWe expect there to be a need for a new route on the north side of Manchester.