§ Mr. McLoughlinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which sections of concrete roads are planned to be surfaced with quieter materials in the financial year beginning in April 2001; and what criteria were used to select them for priority treatment. [145445]
§ Mr. HillThe Highways Agency is consulting on proposed criteria for prioritising the resurfacing of concrete roads with quieter materials to meet the Government's commitment that all concrete trunk roads will be resurfaced within 10 years. As indicated in the Agency's consultation letter, copies of which are in the450W Libraries of the House, the sections of concrete roads that are planned to be resurfaced in the financial year beginning April 2001 are:
- M5: part of Junction 26 to Junction 27
- M25: Junction 26 to Junction 27
- M27: Junction 2 to Junction 4 (both directions)
- M42: Junction 9 to Junction 10 (northbound)
- Al: Winthorpe to north Muskham
- A12: part of a section from M25 to Witham (Essex)
For this year priority has been given to those roads requiring maintenance to keep them in a safe and serviceable condition. For subsequent years priorities will be set according to the criteria that will be finalised following consideration of the responses to the Agency's current consultations.