Mr. Gresham Cookeasked the Minister of Transport whether she is aware that, in connection with traffic at Heathrow Airport, a link is needed at the southern end of the M1 to serve traffic which carries large volumes of cargo from the Midlands to the North and which is now obliged to use the heavily congested North Circular Road to Chiswick or roads in the vicinity of Harrow and Ruislip; and when such a link will be made available.
§ Mr. SwinglerWorks on the section of the "D" Ring route between the M4 and Yeading are planned to start by 1970. The route from Yeading to the M1 is under investigation at present.
Mr. Gresham Cookeasked the Minister of Transport, in view of the estimate that the 12 million passengers handled at Heathrow in 1966 are likely to exceed 24 million in 1972 and that about half of these passengers will arrive and depart by car, even if the projected rail links are available, what initial steps she has in mind to accelerate the construction of the north-south orbital road to the west of Heathrow linking the M1, M4 and M23 and the projected D ring road to the east of the airport.
§ Mr. SwinglerThe department are at present studying the need for road improvements in this area further to those already included in the announced trunk road programme or preparation pool.
§ Mr. Russell Johnstonasked the Minister of Transport whether she is satisfied with the rate of construction of the important Midland link motorway joining the M1 and M6 motorways; and whether she will give an assurance that this traffic artery will be completed before 1971.
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§ Mr. SwinglerThe target completion date for the M1-M6 Motorway Link as a whole is still 1971. Progress so far indicates that this target will be achieved, but there is no prospect of completion before 1971.