HC Deb 05 May 1965 vol 711 cc176-9W
65. Mr. Awdry

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is satisfied with the present progress on new motorways; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Tom Fraser

The 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 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. Awdry

asked the Minister of Transport what plans he has for the introduction of tolls on the new motorways when they are completed.

Mr. Tom Fraser

I 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 Cooke

asked 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 Fraser

The information requested is set out in the following Table:

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
—Stretford-Eccles By-Pass (Classified motorway built by Lancashire County Council) 6
—Filton By-Pass (Classified Motorway built by Gloucestershire County Council)
345½
Motorways under construction Miles
M.1—London-Yorkshire
Page Street-Aldenham
Brockley Interchange
Markfield-Pinxton 30½
East Ardsley-Stourton
Tinsley Viaduct ¾
M.4—London-South Wales
Almondsbury-Hambrook
Almondsbury Interchange
Severn Bridge and Approaches
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
A.1(M)—Baldock By-Pass
A.40(M)—High Wycombe By-Pass (Handy Cross-Burkes Road excluding Loudwater Viaduct)
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
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
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
M.56—North Cheshire Motorway 26
Sharston By-Pass
A.1(M)—Birtley By-pass
180½

Construction had started in all cases where contracts had been placed.

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