THE EARL OF HARROWBYasked Her Majesty's Government:
When the motorway between M4-M5 junction and the M5-M6 junction will be completed, when all the tenders for it will be sent out, and when the dual-carriageway from A40, near Uxbridge, to Wheatley will be completed.
1128WA
§ LORD WINTERBOTTOMIt is hoped to have all the M5 Motorway between the M4-M5 junction at Almondsbury and the M5-M6 junction at Ray Hall opened to traffic in 1971.
Only five contracts remain to be let on this length. Tenders for two will be invited early in 1969 and for a further one in spring, 1969, while the remaining two will follow in early summer, 1969.
It is not at present possible to say when the whole of the M40 Motorway between Denham roundabout junction of A40, A412 and A4020 and A40 at Wheatley By-Pass will be completed but the following information gives the present position.
The whole proposal is divided into five lengths as follows:—
- I. Gerrards Cross By-Pass, 6.7 miles, from Denham Roundabout to B473 (Beaconsfield-Slough). This length is in the preparation pool and preparatory design is in hand but is not yet in the firm programme. It is not possible to say when the tender stage will be reached.
- II. Beaconsfield By-Pass, 1.05 miles, from B473 to Burkes Road, Holtspur, is being designed and it is hoped to invite tenders early in 1969, to let a contract in spring, 1969, to be completed by spring, 1971.
- III. Burkes Road, Holtspur, to A404 (High Wycombe-Marlow) at Handy Cross, 5.1 miles, including the Loud-water Viaduct, is almost complete and will be opened towards the end of 1968.
- IV. Handy Cross to Stokenchurch, 7.9 miles, is already open (June, 1967).
- V. A line for the remaining 9.5 miles, from Stokenchurch to Wheatley, was published, as required by the Highways Act 1959, last summer. The objection period has expired, and the position is now being considered. It is too early to estimate when it might become possible to invite tenders.
House adjourned at nine minutes past seven o'clock, until Monday, 14th October.