§ 81. Mr. Ernest Daviesasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation particulars of the five major road projects to which he is giving first priority, and indicate which of the projects are to be new roads and which are to be improved roads.
§ Mr. WatkinsonI give below descriptions of five road projects to which I attach special importance. In so far as they are not already included in the programme, these schemes will be added as soon as the country's economic and financial position allows sufficient funds to be devoted to road improvements. The schemes are as follows :
- 1. An improved trunk road from London to the north-east based on the present Great North Road. Many improvements on this road are already in progress and others are being prepared.
- 2. A new motor road from London to the north-west, the first part of which will be the motor road from north London to the south-east of Birmingham. It is hoped to complete this section by 1960. It will be followed by the motor road from north of Birmingham to Lancashire, linking up with the Preston By-pass (on which work has already started).
- 3. Improvements of the two existing trunk roads from London to the south-east, bypassing the Medway Towns (A.2) and Maidstone and Ashford (A.20).
- 4. A road from the Midlands to South Wales, including the new Ross Spur motor road from Upton-on-Severn to Ross and substantial reconstruction of the existing Heads of the Valleys Road between Abergavenny and Hirwaun. Also a new motor road from Upton-on-Severn to the outskirts of Birmingham.
- 5. A road from London westwards to London Airport, the West of England and South Wales.