HC Deb 16 October 1995 vol 264 cc100-3W
Mr. Spearing

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list those projects in the road programme in Greater London approved in principle, which add no route mileage to the road system but are designed principally to improve traffic flow or safety on existing routes indicating for each its cost, current state of planning and statutory processes, and likely commencement and completion dates; [37372]

(2) if he will list the constraints on increasing the traffic lanes on the Iron bridge spanning the River Lea at Canning Town from six lanes to eight; [37272]

(3) what is the current number of traffic lanes on trunk roads crossing the River Lea at or adjacent to Canning Town; what is their total maximum predicted traffic flow in each direction; what plans he has to increase the number of such lanes; and what is the increase in traffic flow estimated to result. [37271]

Mr. Norris

These are operational matters for the Highways Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Nigel Spearing, dated 16 October 1995 I am writing in response to your recent Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Transport, in which you sought information about the A13 Ironbridge to Canning Town Improvement scheme and other schemes in Greater London. I wrote to you on 17 October 1994, as did Mr. Norris on 3 March 1995, about the constraints on the use of the existing Iron Bridge. The overriding constraint is that the existing bridge is not wide enough to carry four lanes in each direction and there is no satisfactory way of modifying the structure to do so. There is nothing that I can usefully add. I enclose at Appendix A a list of schemes which are in the trunk road programme for Greater London. It shows their cost (as quoted in last year's Review of Trunk Roads in England) and the last stage reached in their preparation. Further progress will depend on the satisfactory completion of the remaining statutory procedures and the continuing availability of funds. All of the schemes arc designed to improve existing routes rather than to extend the trunk road network. There are currently three trunk road traffic lanes crossing the River Lea in each direction at or near Canning Town. Only two lanes in each direction cater for through traffic: the others serve the slip roads to and from the Canning Town Roundabout. Maximum predicted traffic flows are governed by the capacity of adjacent junctions, link roads and traffic signal installations. The maximum predicted traffic flows quoted at the recent public inquiry for the existing trunk road were as follows:

  • Westbound: 2,200 vehicles per hour through traffic with an additional 1,000 vehicles joining from the slip road.
  • Eastbound: 4,400 vehicles per hour. (This figure includes about 900 vehicles which peel off at the slip road.)
The improvement scheme would provide three lanes in each direction for through traffic and two lanes in each direction for slip roads, but one of the latter would be a dedicated bus lane. There would also be a cycle lane on the slip roads. At the inquiry, the maximum predicted flows of through traffic on the improved trunk road were quoted as follows:
  • Westbound: 4,800 vehicles per hour.
  • Eastbound: 4,800 vehicles per hour.
 (There would be no junction constraints in the new configuration.) In addition up to 700 vehicles per hour would use each of the slip roads, the peak being in the morning.

Appendix A
Order of Total Scheme Cost £ million, excluding VAT
A40 Gypsy Corner Improvement (LB Hounslow); awaiting construction 32.4
A40 Western Circus Junction Improvement (LB Ealing): awaiting construction 38.2
A13 West of Heathway—Thames Avenue Improvement (LBS Barking and Dagenham); awaiting construction 86.9
A406/A1/A598 Regents Park Road Junction Improvement (LB Barnet): awaiting construction 57.3
A13 Movers Lane Junction Improvement (LBs Barking and Dagenham): draft Orders published. Public inquiry completed 36.8
A13/A117 Junction Improvement (LB Newham): draft Orders published. Public inquiry completed 26.3
A13/A112 Prince Regent Lane Junction Improvement (LB Newham): draft Orders published. Public inquiry completed 37.0
Appendix A
Order of Total Scheme Cost £ million. excluding VAT
A406 Bounds Green—Green Lane Improvement (LB Enfield): draft Orders published, but to be revised and reissued 131.8
A406 Golders Green Road Junction Improvement (LB Barnet): Orders have been made and advance works have started 22.4
M4/A4 Link, Hounslow (LBs Hillingdon and Hounslow): at an early stage. Consultants yet to be appointed 24.0
A102 Blackwall Third Crossing (LBs Tower Hamlets and LB Greenwich): Public Consultation held—no firm conclusion. Further feasibility work to be done 137.4
A406 Popes Lane—Western Avenue Improvement (LB Ealing): Secretary of State's decision has been announced. Further work is required on smaller scale options 82.4
A406 East London River Crossing (LBs Greenwich and Newham): in the Longer Term programme i.e, currently in abeyance n/a
A13 Ironbridge—Canning Town Improvement (LB Newham): draft Orders have been published. Public inquiry to be held 55.5
A205 Catford Town Centre Improvement (LB Lewisham): Side Roads Order confirmed. Compulsory Purchase Order yet to be confirmed 12.6
A4 Henlys/Waggoners Corner Improvement (LB Hounslow): Public Consultation held 9.9
A2 Kidbrooke Park Road Interchange Improvement (LB Greenwich): Public Consultation held 14.1
M4 J3–4B Widening (LBs Hillingdon and Hounslow): Public Consultation held 35.4
M25 Terminal 5 Spur (Heathrow), Surrey (LB Hillingdon): Public Consultation held 23.4
Primary Route Network Signing: pilot completed. Completion by 1998 12.5
Cable and Communications: in progress. Completion by 2000 13.8

The Highways Agency's Business Plan lists 47 Network Enhancement Projects in London, costing between £50,000 and £1 million each, at a total cost of £9.8 million, which are due to start in 1995–96. There is also an ongoing programme of smaller schemes in 1995–96 at a cost of £4.9 million.