§ 54. Mr. G. Thomasasked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the dismay in South Wales at his decision that the new Heads of the Valleys road which will link South and West Wales with the Midlands shall be a three-lane road only; and whether, in view of the statistical proof that three-lane roads are less safe, he will reconsider this decision.
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§ 61. Mr. Gowerasked the Minister of Transport under what circumstances it is his policy to perpetuate the three-lane type of road when constructing new roads; for what reasons he has decided to do so in the case of the new Heads of the Valleys road in Wales; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MarplesI am satisfied that, within the traffic capacity for which it is designed, a single carriageway road with two traffic lanes and an additional passing lane is a safe and economical form of construction. I am not aware of any statistical proof to the contrary. It is my policy to provide a single 33-foot carriageway with three lanes on new trunk roads where the estimated future traffic does not exceed the capacity for that design. The traffic on the new Heads of the Valleys Road is not likely to reach that capacity for many years.
57. The Rev. Ll. Williamsasked the Minister of Transport what date is envisaged for the completion of the Tops of the Valleys Road in South Wales.
§ Mr. HayWork on the first stage between Abergavenny and Brynmawr started last month, and we hope to complete it by the summer of 1962. The second and third stages will follow on as soon as possible.