Midland Links Motorways (Hansard, 7 June 1995)

§ Mr. Rooker
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many days in each of the past 10 years there have been lane closures on the viaducts of the midland links motorways. [26985]

§ Mr. Watts
It is not possible to establish precisely how many days in each of the past 10 years there have been lane closures on the midland links motorways viaducts. In addition to the programmed major refurbishment works, which include periodic lane closures, there have been closures required for emergency works and for routine maintenance. The major refurbishment contracts are as follows, with duration of each contract:

i. 1995—M6 Gravelly Hill and Bromford West Viaducts, (on-going contract expected to last for as total of eight months).

ii. 1994—M6 Bromford East Viaduct (12 months).

iii. 1994—M5 Western Arm, (eight months).

iv. 1993—M5 Eastern Arm, (11 months).

v. 1993-Gravelly Hill CB/EB, (five months).

vi. 1992—Gravelly Hill CA (three months).

vii. 1992—Gravelly Hill CD/DC, (four months).

viii. 1991—M6 Ray Hall, (six months).

ix. 1991—Gravelly Hill CF/FC, (three months).

x. 1990—M6 Bescot Viaduct and Fullbrook Embankment, (10 months).

xi. 1990—M6 Thornbridge Viaduct Verges and Perry Barr Locks, (four months).

xii. 1990—Gravelly Hill BC, (two months).

xiii. 1989—M5 Junction 1 to MP2, (three months).

xiv. 1989—M5 Junction 1 to MP5.6, (three months).

xv. 1988—M6 Thornbridge Viaduct, (three months).

xvi. 1988—Gravelly Hill EA, (three months).

xviii. 1987—M5 Oldbury Viaduct, (10 months).

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By using temporary narrow lanes at times of peak traffic demand, the programmed closures have not materially restricted capacity below that otherwise available. At all other times, sufficient capacity has been maintained to accommodate the prevailing traffic flow with minimum delay.

§ Mr. Rooker
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how and on what basis the substructure motorway maintenance contracts issued by his Department for the midland links motorways are divided between W. S. Atkins and Partners and Maunsell and Partners. [26986]

§ Mr. Watts
The viaduct commissions are divided on a geographical basis. G. Maunsell and Partners' responsibilities cover the M6 from junction 5, to and including junction 7. W. S. Atkins' responsibilities cover the M6 from the west of junction 7 to the north end of Bescot viaduct immediately north of junction 9 and the M5 from where it diverges from the M6 to the southern end of Titford viaduct, just south of junction 2.

§ Mr. Rooker
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the cost of the maintenance and repair of the midland links motorways in each year since 1983. [26987]

§ Mr. Watts
The cost of the maintenance and repair of the midland links motorways, which are taken to be the M6 from junction 5 to immediately north of junction 9 and the M5 from the M6 to just south of junction 2, is as follows:

£ million

Financial year Outturn cost of maintenance and repairs

1983–84 ¹0.9

1984–85 ¹2.5

1985–86 ¹4.0

1986–87 5.6

1987–88 8.8

1988–89 7.1

1989–90 16.7

1990–91 25.2

1991–92 22.7

1992–93 22.3

1993–94 28.7

1994–95 38.0

¹ Structural maintenance only—roadworks carried out by WMCC— records not available.

§ Mr. Rooker
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the current arrangements for the maintenance and repair of the midland links motorways. [26988]

§ Mr. Watts
The Highways Agency, acting on behalf of the Secretary of State, has engaged the services of three firms of consulting engineers to assist in the management, maintenance and repair of the midland links motorways. These are, for the structures and viaducts, W. S. Atkins and Partners and G. Maunsell and Partners and, for the road surface, street furniture and embankment sections, Owen Williams. All three commissions come to an end in April 1996 and the way forward from then on is currently under review.

§ Mr. Rooker
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many lane miles of the midland links motorways have been resurfaced in the past 10 years; and what proportion this figure is of the total lane miles. [26989]
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§ Mr. Watts
Some 86 lane miles have been resurfaced in the past 10 years out of a total of 118 lane miles—that is, 73 per cent.

§ Mr. Rooker
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions the bearings, plinths and joints have been replaced on each of the viaducts on the midland links motorways in the past 10 years; and at what cost. [26990]

§ Mr. Watts
In the past 10 years, there has been no programme to replace the bearings or bearing plinths on any of the viaducts. In isolated cases, it has become necessary to replace the bearing plinths because of other works to the structure. Bearings have been replaced only as a consequence of other modifications to the structure. In total, 0.5 per cent. of the bearings and 4.5 per cent. of the bearings plinths have been replaced in this period. The costs associated with the replacements cannot be accurately determined as they were carried out in conjunction with other operations.
The expansion joints are replaced during the course of resurfacing contracts. In the past 10 years, the expansion joints have been replaced once on Oldbury, Ray Hall, Bescot, Wigmore, Thornbridge and Bromford viaducts together with most of those on Gravelly hill viaduct. The type of joints used on the midland links viaducts are subject to routine maintenance at five to eight-year intervals to ensure their continuing satisfactory performance. Occasionally, this requires complete replacement of isolated joints. The costs associated with the joint replacement cannot be accurately determined as they are carried out in conjunction with other operations.

§ Mr. Rooker
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many vehicles are using the midland links motorways on a daily basis; and what was the design estimate of usage. [26991]

§ Mr. Watts
The number of vehicles using the midland links motorways on a daily basis varies between junctions. The busiest section, between junctions 8 and 9 of the M6, has an average weekday traffic flow of approximately 160,000 vehicles per day whereas the section between junctions 1 and 2 of the MS has an equivalent flow of 90,000 vehicles per day. A motorway of this standard would have been expected to carry traffic flows of around 70,000 vehicles per day.

§ Mr. Rooker
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many contracts have been let for the repair of the parapet wall and rails of each viaduct on the midland links motorways in the past 10 years; and at what cost. [26992]

§ Mr. Watts
In the past 10 years, there have been six contracts let specifically for the repair of parapet rails. Three of these contracts were for work on Bromford viaduct, one for Gravelly Hill viaduct and two for Ray Hall viaduct. The total cost of this work was about £1.75 million.
Since 1992, as a consequence of safety and traffic management considerations, the repair of parapets, where required, has been included within the major resurfacing. The cost of the parapet repairs included within these contracts cannot readily be identified.

§ Mr. Rooker
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which 10 companies have been the most successful tenderers for construction work of all descriptions on the midland links motorways in the past 10 years. [26993]
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§ Mr. Watts
Between 1985 and 1987, no significant contracts were awarded, apart from some minor repair trial contracts, painting contracts, term maintenance contracts and three contracts to provide and install gutters under the deck joints. The 10 companies which have been the most successful tenderers since 1987, in terms of the number of contracts awarded are:

Name Number of contracts awarded

R and C Williams 15

EPL 9

AMEC (Fairclough) 6

Curtail, Lewis and Martin 6

Tarmac 6

Galliford 6

Edmund Nuttall 6

Tilbury Douglas (R M Douglas) 5

Christiani and Nielsen 5

Kinmain 5

W. S. Atkins and Partners

£ million

Contract ref. Viaduct Contractor Tender sum Final account

Con A Oldbury and Bescot John Laing 0.677 1.220

R1 Oldbury and Bescot Currall, Lewis and Martin 1.396 1.572

R3 Oldbury Fairclough 0.339 0.342

R5 Oldbury R. M. Douglas 0.809 ²—

R7 Ray Hall and Bescot Shand 1.231 1.216

R9 Wigmore M. J. Gleeson 0.463 0.457

R11 Oldbury Shephard Hill 0.764 0.727

R13 Wigmore Currall, Lewis and Martin 0.359 0.466

R15 Oldbury Currall, Lewis and Martin 0.357 0.358

R17 Oldbury Christiani and Nielsen 1.354 ¹—

R19 Oldbury Christiani and Nielsen 1.120 ¹—

R21 Oldbury Fairclough 0.96 ¹—

R23 Several Fairclough 0.551 0.577

R25 Ray Hall and Bescot Shand 1.464 1.579

R27 Several E. Williams 0.065 0.063

R31 Ray Hall Edmund Nuttall 0.688 ¹—

R33 Wigmore Trafalgar House 0.586 ¹—

R35 Bescott Trafalgar House 0.598 ¹—

R37 Oldbury Edmund Nuttall 1.498 ¹—

R39 Oldbury Shephard Hill 1.231 ¹—

R41 Ray Hall M. J. Gleeson 0.937 ¹—

R43 Bescot Taylor Woodrow 1.183 ¹—

R45 Ray Hall Christiani and Nielsen 0.791 ¹—

R47 Oldbury C. J. Pearce and Co. 0.110 0.111

R49 Titford and Junction 1 Tarmac 2.114 ¹—

R51 Wigmore Taylor Woodrow 1.644 ¹—

Routine Maintenance Contracts

A n/a R and C Williams ²— 0.149

C n/a R and C Williams ²— 0.161

F n/a R and C Williams ²— 0.118

H n/a R and C Williams ²— 0.289

K n/a R and C Williams ²— 0.138

M n/a R and C Williams ²— 0.186

P n/a R and C Williams ²— 0.271

R n/a R and C Williams ²— 0.398

T n/a R and C Williams ²— 0.326

V n/a R and C Williams ²— ¹—

¹ Accounts not finalised.

² Schedule of rates contract.

232W

§ Mr. Rooker
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out in respect of the substructure motorway maintenance contracts administered for his Department by W. S. Atkins and Partners and Maunsell and Partners(a) the numbers of contracts for each section of the midland links motorways since responsibility was removed from the former West Midlands county council, (b) the tender sum of each contract, (c) the final account of each contract and (d) the successful tenderer in each contract. [27030]

§ Mr. Watts
The substructure motorway maintenance contracts administered by G. Maunsell and Partners and W. S. Atkins are listed in the table. In addition to those contracts listed, the consultants have administered contracts for the hire of access equipment, some minor repair trial contracts and three contracts to provide and install gutters under the deck joints.
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G. Mansell and Partners

£ million

Contract reference Viaduct Contractor Tender Sum Final Account

B Gravelly Hill Currall, Lewis and Martin 0.299 0.343

R2 Gravelly Hill Galliford 0.284 0.316

R4 Gravelly Hill Galliford 0.281 0.549

R6 Gravelly Hill Fairclough 0.506 0.516

R8 Thornbridge Tarmac 0.372 0.593

RIO Witton Tarmac 0.232 0.340

R12 Gravelly Hill Edmund Nuttall 0.876 0.888

R14 Gravelly Hill Norwest Hoist 0.405 0.509

R16 Gravelly Hill Fairclough 0.400 0.461

R18 Queslett Currall, Lewis and Martin 0.342 ¹—

R20 Thornbridge Fairclough 0.504 0.583

R22 Witton Galliford 0.408 ¹—

R26 Bromford Ian Williams and Co. 0.055 0.074

R28 Gravelly Hill Norwest Hoist 0.495 0.606

R30 Gravelly Hill A Monk 0.599 ¹—

R32 Bromford Balvac Whitley Moran 0,299 ¹—

R34 Gravelly Hill Trafalgar House 0.579 0.619

R38 Bromford Kier 0.965 ¹—

R40 Bromford Tarmac 0.398 ¹—

R42 Gravelly Hill Christiani and Nielsen 0.667 ¹—

R44 Gravelly Hill Tarmac 0.620 ¹—

R46 Bromford Currall, Lewis and Martin 0.330 ¹—

R50 Bromford Balvac Whitley Moran 1.415 ¹—

R52 Thornbridge Tarmac 0.596 ¹—

R54 Bromford Tilbury Douglas 1.397 ¹—

R56 Gravelly Hill Balvac Whitley Moran 1.215 ¹—

Routing Maintenance Contracts

B n/a Clee Hill/R and C Williams ²— 0.218

D n/a R and C Williams ²— 0.118

E n/a R and C Williams ²— 0.082

G n/a R and C Williams ²— 0.262

J n/a R and C Williams ²— 0.150

L n/a R and C Williams ²— 0.195

N n/a R and C Williams ²— 0.173

Q n/a R and C Williams ²— 0.185

S n/a R and C Williams ²— 0.427

U n/a Prismo ²— 0.719

w n/a R and C Williams ²— ¹—

§ Mr. Rooker
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the area of responsibility of Sir Owen Williams and Partners as agents of his Department in respect of the midland links motorways; how many contracts they have issued since 1983; and what was the tender value of each, the final account of each and the successful tenderer in each case. [27031]

§ Mr. Watts
Owen Williams Consulting Engineers—formerly Sir Owen Williams and Partners—responsible for the day-to-day routine maintenance of the

£ million

Scheme Contractor Tender value Final account

Term Maintenance Contract 3 Prismo ²— 3.983

Term Maintenance Contract 4 Prismo ²— ¹—

Verge Safety Fencing M6 J6-J7 Invicta Fencing 0.060 0.056

Central Reserve Renewal Wrekin Construction 0.616 ¹—

M5 Palisade Scheme 1 A and A Lamb 0.030 0.025

M5 Palisade Scheme 2 A and A Lamb 0.104 ¹—

Perry Barr Salt/Urea store Droicon Plc. 0.438 ¹—

M6 Noise Barrier Royston Steel Fencing Ltd. 0.137 ¹—

¹— Accounts not yet finalised.

²— Schedule of rates contract.

234W
carriageways of the whole of the midland links network. In addition, its responsibilities cover the major maintenance contracts on the earthworks sections of the links. Also, on the viaducts, it is responsible for the design and supervision of the traffic management, carriageway surfacing and drainage and street furniture above deck waterproofing as part of major hybrid contracts co-ordinated by the structural consultants.
Since 1991, when Owen Williams was first appointed to the maintenance commission, eight contracts have been awarded for which it has sole responsibility, as listed in the table.

£ million
Financial year	Outturn cost of maintenance and repairs
1983–84	¹0.9
1984–85	¹2.5
1985–86	¹4.0
1986–87	5.6
1987–88	8.8
1988–89	7.1
1989–90	16.7
1990–91	25.2
1991–92	22.7
1992–93	22.3
1993–94	28.7
1994–95	38.0
¹ Structural maintenance only—roadworks carried out by WMCC— records not available.

Name	Number of contracts awarded
R and C Williams	15
EPL	9
AMEC (Fairclough)	6
Curtail, Lewis and Martin	6
Tarmac	6
Galliford	6
Edmund Nuttall	6
Tilbury Douglas (R M Douglas)	5
Christiani and Nielsen	5
Kinmain	5

W. S. Atkins and Partners
£ million
Contract ref.	Viaduct	Contractor	Tender sum	Final account
Con A	Oldbury and Bescot	John Laing	0.677	1.220
R1	Oldbury and Bescot	Currall, Lewis and Martin	1.396	1.572
R3	Oldbury	Fairclough	0.339	0.342
R5	Oldbury	R. M. Douglas	0.809	²—
R7	Ray Hall and Bescot	Shand	1.231	1.216
R9	Wigmore	M. J. Gleeson	0.463	0.457
R11	Oldbury	Shephard Hill	0.764	0.727
R13	Wigmore	Currall, Lewis and Martin	0.359	0.466
R15	Oldbury	Currall, Lewis and Martin	0.357	0.358
R17	Oldbury	Christiani and Nielsen	1.354	¹—
R19	Oldbury	Christiani and Nielsen	1.120	¹—
R21	Oldbury	Fairclough	0.96	¹—
R23	Several	Fairclough	0.551	0.577
R25	Ray Hall and Bescot	Shand	1.464	1.579
R27	Several	E. Williams	0.065	0.063
R31	Ray Hall	Edmund Nuttall	0.688	¹—
R33	Wigmore	Trafalgar House	0.586	¹—
R35	Bescott	Trafalgar House	0.598	¹—
R37	Oldbury	Edmund Nuttall	1.498	¹—
R39	Oldbury	Shephard Hill	1.231	¹—
R41	Ray Hall	M. J. Gleeson	0.937	¹—
R43	Bescot	Taylor Woodrow	1.183	¹—
R45	Ray Hall	Christiani and Nielsen	0.791	¹—
R47	Oldbury	C. J. Pearce and Co.	0.110	0.111
R49	Titford and Junction 1	Tarmac	2.114	¹—
R51	Wigmore	Taylor Woodrow	1.644	¹—
Routine Maintenance Contracts
A	n/a	R and C Williams	²—	0.149
C	n/a	R and C Williams	²—	0.161
F	n/a	R and C Williams	²—	0.118
H	n/a	R and C Williams	²—	0.289
K	n/a	R and C Williams	²—	0.138
M	n/a	R and C Williams	²—	0.186
P	n/a	R and C Williams	²—	0.271
R	n/a	R and C Williams	²—	0.398
T	n/a	R and C Williams	²—	0.326
V	n/a	R and C Williams	²—	¹—
¹ Accounts not finalised.
² Schedule of rates contract.

G. Mansell and Partners
£ million
Contract reference	Viaduct	Contractor	Tender Sum	Final Account
B	Gravelly Hill	Currall, Lewis and Martin	0.299	0.343
R2	Gravelly Hill	Galliford	0.284	0.316
R4	Gravelly Hill	Galliford	0.281	0.549
R6	Gravelly Hill	Fairclough	0.506	0.516
R8	Thornbridge	Tarmac	0.372	0.593
RIO	Witton	Tarmac	0.232	0.340
R12	Gravelly Hill	Edmund Nuttall	0.876	0.888
R14	Gravelly Hill	Norwest Hoist	0.405	0.509
R16	Gravelly Hill	Fairclough	0.400	0.461
R18	Queslett	Currall, Lewis and Martin	0.342	¹—
R20	Thornbridge	Fairclough	0.504	0.583
R22	Witton	Galliford	0.408	¹—
R26	Bromford	Ian Williams and Co.	0.055	0.074
R28	Gravelly Hill	Norwest Hoist	0.495	0.606
R30	Gravelly Hill	A Monk	0.599	¹—
R32	Bromford	Balvac Whitley Moran	0,299	¹—
R34	Gravelly Hill	Trafalgar House	0.579	0.619
R38	Bromford	Kier	0.965	¹—
R40	Bromford	Tarmac	0.398	¹—
R42	Gravelly Hill	Christiani and Nielsen	0.667	¹—
R44	Gravelly Hill	Tarmac	0.620	¹—
R46	Bromford	Currall, Lewis and Martin	0.330	¹—
R50	Bromford	Balvac Whitley Moran	1.415	¹—
R52	Thornbridge	Tarmac	0.596	¹—
R54	Bromford	Tilbury Douglas	1.397	¹—
R56	Gravelly Hill	Balvac Whitley Moran	1.215	¹—
Routing Maintenance Contracts
B	n/a	Clee Hill/R and C Williams	²—	0.218
D	n/a	R and C Williams	²—	0.118
E	n/a	R and C Williams	²—	0.082
G	n/a	R and C Williams	²—	0.262
J	n/a	R and C Williams	²—	0.150
L	n/a	R and C Williams	²—	0.195
N	n/a	R and C Williams	²—	0.173
Q	n/a	R and C Williams	²—	0.185
S	n/a	R and C Williams	²—	0.427
U	n/a	Prismo	²—	0.719
w	n/a	R and C Williams	²—	¹—

£ million
Scheme	Contractor	Tender value	Final account
Term Maintenance Contract 3	Prismo	²—	3.983
Term Maintenance Contract 4	Prismo	²—	¹—
Verge Safety Fencing M6 J6-J7	Invicta Fencing	0.060	0.056
Central Reserve Renewal	Wrekin Construction	0.616	¹—
M5 Palisade Scheme 1	A and A Lamb	0.030	0.025
M5 Palisade Scheme 2	A and A Lamb	0.104	¹—
Perry Barr Salt/Urea store	Droicon Plc.	0.438	¹—
M6 Noise Barrier	Royston Steel Fencing Ltd.	0.137	¹—
¹— Accounts not yet finalised.
²— Schedule of rates contract.