§ Mr. KidneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans the Highways Agency has to replace concrete surfaces with noise-reducing surfaces on motorways, with particular reference to the M6 motorway between junctions 12 and 13. [104895]
§ Mr. JamiesonI have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Tim Matthews; to write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from Tim Matthews to Mr. Kidney, dated 28 March 2003:
I have been asked by the Transport Minister, David Jamieson, to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the use of noise-reducing surfacing on motorways and, in particular, the M6 motorway between junctions 12 and 13.The Government's Ten Year Plan for Transport, announced in July 2000, gave an undertaking that by 2010 60% of the motorway and other trunk road network, including all concrete roads, would have lower noise surfaces.When the Secretary of State announced his response to the Midlands and North West Multi-Modal Study last December, he also asked the Highways Agency to carry out further work on implementation and timing to enable a scheme to be brought forward for the widening of the M6 between junctions 1la and 19. While this may influence the timing of any resurfacing, the intention is that the concrete carriageway section between junctions 12 and 13 will be replaced with a lower noise surface.I hope this is helpful. If you would like further information, the Highways Agency's Project Sponsor dealing with M6 widening is Nick Curwen. He can be contacted at our offices at Broadway, Broad Street, Birmingham B15 1BL, or by telephone on 0121 678 8232.