Mr. Robert AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport at how many places on the national, motorway and trunk road motorway(a) speed limits are imposed as a result of a maintenance problem awaiting attention, (b) areas of carriageway or hard shoulder have had access restricted because of a maintenance problem awaiting attention, (c) signs have been erected to warn of a slippery surface and (d) weight restrictions have been imposed as a result of structures unable to carry vehicles of up to 38 tonnes gvw. [243]
§ Mr. WattsI have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Robert Ainsworth, dated 4th November 1996:
The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent question asking at how many places on the motorway and trunk road network (a) speed limits are imposed as a result of a maintenance problem awaiting attention, (b) areas of carriageway or hard shoulder have had access restricted because of a maintenance problem awaiting attention, (c) signs have been erected to warn of a slippery surface and (d) weight restrictions have been imposed as a result of structures unable to carry vehicles of up to 38 tonnes gvw.At the present time, temporary speed restrictions apply at the following locations:
- M1 Junction 1 Southbound
- M1/M621 Junction in West Yorkshire
- M11 at Duxford in Cambridgeshire Southbound
- M180 North Ings Interchange in South Yorkshire
- M606/M62 Junction in West Yorkshire
- A1 at Winthorpe in Nottinghamshire
- A1/A41 Fiveways Junction in London
- A194(M) at Blackfell Bridge in Tyne & Wear
- A40 at Golden Valley Bridge in Gloucestershire
- A42 at Lount in Leicestershire
- A500 near Nantwich in Cheshire
- and at 13 separate locations on the A14 in Cambridgeshire and Suffolk.
At these places areas of the carriageway or hard shoulder have been coned off pending maintenance work:
- M1 at Smithywood in South Yorkshire
- M1 at Birdwell Quarry in South Yorkshire
- M1 at Stainborough in South Yorkshire
- M1 Junction 1 Southbound
- M1 Junction 2 Slip Roads
- M1 Junction 2 Northbound
362 - M2 Medway Bridge
- M2 Gillingham Link Bridges
- M4 Junction 13
- M5 Junctions 1–2 Northbound and Southbound
- M5 Junction 9 Northbound Slip Road
- M6 Junction 43–44 Southbound
- M6 Junction 8 Northbound and Southbound
- M62 J18–19 at Birch Services
- M62 Eastbound west of A1
- M66 J0–1 at Lower Park
- M180 North Ings Interchange in South Yorkshire
- M606/M62 Junction in West Yorkshire
- A102(M) Northbound at Blackwall Tunnel
- A194(M) at Blackfell Bridge in Tyne & Wear
- A13 Old Roding Bridge in London
- A13 Beam Bridge North in London
- A2 at Littledale Viaduct
- A40 at Golden Valley Bridge in Gloucestershire
- A41 at Whitchurch in Shropshire
Signs have been erected to warn of a slippery surface as follows:
- M62 Junction 29 Eastbound Slip Road
- M62 Junction 33 Eastbound Slip Road
- M62 Junctions 32–33 in West Yorkshire
- M62 Junction 32 Westbound Slip Road
- A1 Ferrybridge Southbound Slip Road in West Yorkshire
- A1 Darrington Southbound Slip Road in West Yorkshire
- A1 Womersley Slip Road in West Yorkshire
- A1 Redhouse Northbound Slip Road in South Yorkshire
- A5 Catthorpe Crossroads in Warwickshire
- A5 Lilboume Truck Stop in Warwickshire
At these locations the problem is generally deformation of the road surface. There will also be other places where a routine survey of skidding resistance indicates a possible problem and the need for closer investigation. Signs warning of a slippery surface are erected at these locations too while these further investigations are carried out.Finally, structures supporting motorways or all-purpose trunk roads which are currently restricted to vehicles of less than 38 tonnes are:
- A13 Movers Lane Flyover in East London
- A40 Golden Valley Bridge in Gloucestershire