Road Improvement Costs

HC Deb 22 July 2004 vol 424 cc667-8W

Mrs. May

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the estimated cost is of the items in the programme of road improvements set out in Appendix 6 of the Highways Agency Business Plan which are dependent on the outcome of the Spending Review 2004. [176071]

Mr. Jamieson

The current estimated costs of the schemes referred to are:

£million
A249 Iwade-Queenborough Improvement	81
A5 Weeford—Fazeley Improvement	38

£million
A14 Rookery Crossroads Grade Separated Junction	9
A421 Great Barford Bypass	43
A47 Thorney Bypass	28
A63 Melton Grade Separated Junction	23
M4 Junction 18 Eastbound Diverge	10
M5 Junctions 17–18 Northbound Climbing Lane	6

In most cases, the major costs of the schemes listed above will be incurred after 2004-05. The Highways Agency is proceeding with scheme preparation in order to allow the planned new starts to begin construction this year. Of the 8 new starts identified in the Business Plan, 2 are now under construction.