§ 87. Mr. George Jegerasked the Minister of Transport when work will start on the footbridge at Darrington over trunk Road A1, the new bridge at Rawcliffe, and the improvements to the swing bridge on the A614 at Thorne; and what are the reasons for the delays.
§ Mr. SwinglerThere have been difficulties in obtaining the land for the footbridge at Darrington. My right hon. Friend intends to publish a compulsory purchase order shortly. I cannot at this stage forecast when work will start.
The new bridge at Rawcliffe is a West Riding County Council scheme. Questions of design and the amount of grant payable have caused some delay, but are now settled, and work is expected to begin early in the New Year.
At Thorne a series of difficulties over design and tenders has delayed conversion of the swing-bridge gates to power operation. Until they are resolved, I cannot say when work will begin.