§ 65. Mr. Awdryasked the Minister of Transport whether he is satisfied with the present progress on new motorways; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Tom FraserThe length open to traffic in England should increase from about 300 miles at the beginning of this year to about 440 miles at the end of next year. Having regard to all the other requirements for public investment I think that this increase of almost 177W 50 per cent. in two years is satisfactory. It is still our intention to complete 1,000 miles of motorway in England and Wales by the early 1970s, and present progress is consistent with this aim.
§ 66. Mr. Awdryasked the Minister of Transport what plans he has for the introduction of tolls on the new motorways when they are completed.
§ Mr. Tom FraserI have no plans for introducing tolls generally on motorways. If the Severn Bridge Tolls Bill becomes law, tolls will be charged on the Severn Bridge section of the M.4 motorway. This will accord with my general policy that tolls should be charged on expensive new river crossings, from which users derive exceptional savings in cost and time.
Mr. Gresham Cookeasked the Minister of Transport if he will state, giving the mileage in respect of each, those motorways or lengths of motorway for which no line had yet been proposed, a draft scheme had been published, a scheme had been made, tenders had been invited, a contract had been placed, which were under construction, and which were in use, respectively, as at 30th April.
§ Mr. Tom FraserThe information requested is set out in the following Table:
178W
Motorways in use Miles M.1—London-Yorkshire Aldenham-Markfield 99¾ M.2—Medway Motor Road 25¼ M.4—London-South Wales Chiswick-Maidenhead (including Airport spur) 24½ M.5—Bristol-Birmingham Lydiate Ash-Twyning 26 M.6—Birmingham-Preston-Carlisle Dunston-Lancaster By-Pass 111 M.50—Ross Spur 21½ A.l(M)—Doncaster By-Pass 15½ Stevenage By-Pass 7 A.20(M)—Maidstone By-Pass 6¾ —Stretford-Eccles By-Pass (Classified motorway built by Lancashire County Council) 6 —Filton By-Pass (Classified Motorway built by Gloucestershire County Council) 2¼ 345½ 179W
Motorways under construction Miles M.1—London-Yorkshire Page Street-Aldenham 8¼ Brockley Interchange — Markfield-Pinxton 30½ East Ardsley-Stourton 4½ Tinsley Viaduct ¾ M.4—London-South Wales Almondsbury-Hambrook 3¼ Almondsbury Interchange 2¼ Severn Bridge and Approaches 6½ Midland Motorway Links: M.5—Lydiate Ash-Quinton 6 M.6—Darlaston-Dunston 14¼ A. 1(M)—Darlington-Barton By-Pass (including Darlington spur) 13 A.40(M)—High Wycombe By-Pass Stokenchurch-Handy Cross 8 97¼ Tenders invited M.1—London-Yorkshire Pinxton-Barlborough 14¼ Aston - Tinsley Viaduct (including part of Thurcroft Link) 6 M.4—London-South Wales Hambrook-Tormarton 8 A.l(M)—Durham Motorway (including Bridges) Aycliffe-Bradbury 5¼ A.1(M)—Baldock By-Pass 6¼ A.40(M)—High Wycombe By-Pass (Handy Cross-Burkes Road excluding Loudwater Viaduct) 4¾ 44½ Schemes made M.1—London-Yorkshire Barlborough-Doncaster By-Pass 15½ Meadowhall-East Ardsley 23½ Fiveways Corner ½ Section of Thurcroft Link 1 Midland Motorway Links: M.5—South of Quinton-Great Barr 10 M.6—Catthorpe-Darlaston 41¾ M.6—Birmingham-Preston-Carlisle Penrith By-Pass 8 West of Killington Reservoir-South of Hackthorpe 21 A.1 (M)—Durham Motorway: Bradbury-Chester-le-Street 16½ A.40 (M)—High Wycombe By-Pass Handy Cross-Burkes Road (Loud-water Viaduct only) ¼ M.5—Birmingham-Bristol South of Strensham-East of Almondsbury 41 Cribbs Causeway-Easton-in-Gordano 6 M.62—Lancashire-Yorkshire Worsley-Outlane 24¼ 209¼
Miles Draft Schemes published M.3—London-Basingstoke 39¾ M.4—London-South Wales Liddington-Tormarton 30 M.5—Birmingham-Bristol Easton-in-Gordano-East Brent 20½ M.62—Lancashire Yorkshire Outlane-Lofthouse 19½ A.40 (M)—Beaconsfield and Gerrards Cross By-pass 7½ M.6—Birmingham-Preston-Carlisle Carlisle By-Pass 7 M. 61—Preston-Manchester Preston By-Pass-North of Westhoughton 13 A.20 (M)—Ditton By-Pass 6½ 143¾ Line not yet published M.1—London-Yorkshire Page Street-North Circular 2 M.4—London-South Wales Maidenhead-Liddington 41½ M.6—Birmingham-Preston-Carlisle Penrith-Carlisle 12¼ East of Carnforth-West of Killing-ton Reservoir 15 M.62—Lancashire-Yorkshire Lofthouse-A.1 10½ M.ll—London-Bishops Stortford 32 M.23—London-Crawley 27 M.61—Preston-Manchester North of Westhoughton-Manchester 9¼ M.56—North Cheshire Motorway 26 Sharston By-Pass 2½ A.1(M)—Birtley By-pass 2½ 180½ Construction had started in all cases where contracts had been placed.