§ Mr. PikeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the stretches of motorway which are currently unlit; what his Department's policy is in relation to lighting these parts of the motorway; and if he will make a statement. [5079]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonI have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency to write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Peter Pike, dated 25 June 1997:
524WThe Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions has asked me to reply to your recent question about the sections of unlit motorway and the Department's policy for lighting these parts of motorway.Road Lighting is provided over 30% of the motorway network in England. A list and a map illustrating the lit sections of motorway is attached for your information. Copies of the attached map will be placed in the Library. All other sections of motorway are currently unlit.Lighting is provided in high accident risk areas. The decision on whether to provide lighting is based on an economic assessment of the capital, maintenance and energy costs set against the potential savings as a result of the reduction in night time personal injury accidents. A full environmental assessment is also incorporated.New motorway lighting is being provided in conjunction with motorway widening schemes currently under construction. Apart from this, there is no programme to extend road lighting to unlit sections of motorway. The situation is however kept under review in light of historic accident rates and availability of funds.
List of whole or part sections of lit motorway Motorway Junction to Junction Number Number Ml 1 20 Ml 21 27 M1 46 47 M2 6 End M3 Start 1 M3 2 3 M3 12 End M4 Start 8/9 M4 10 13 M4 20 21 M4 22 Wales M5 Start 9 M5 14 19 M5 30 31 M6 Start 1 M6 2 3 M6 3 11 M6 15 16 M6 19 21A M6 26 33 M10 1 2 M11 Start 3 M11 5 7 M11 12 End M20 4 8 M20 11 13 M23 7 9 M23 9 9A M23 10 End M25 1A 3 M25 6 9 M25 10 17 M25 18 22 M25 23 31 M27 3 4 M27 5 9 M27 11 12 M32 Start 1 M32 1 3 M40 1 2 M40 4 5 M42 Start 1 M42 3 4 M42 5 9 M45 Start 1 M50 Start 1 M53 Start 3 M54 Start 3 M55 Start 3 M55 3 End M56 Start 7 M57 6 End M58 Start 1 M58 3 4 M61 Start 4 M61 9 End M62 9 11 M62 11 27 M62 37 End M63 Start End M66 1 End M67 Start End M69 Start 1 M69 2 End M180 Start 2 M180 4 End M606 Start End M621 Start End Details based on fully commissioned lighting installations.