§ 8. Mr. Leadbitterasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he now has for the erection of safety barriers on motorways and dual carriageways.
§ Mr. Michael HeseltineI propose to complete the installation of central reserve safety fences on M1 up to Catthorpe by the end of 1971, and on 1,000 miles of motorway by 1975.
§ Mr. Goldingasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will now arrange the construction of a safety barrier on the M6 motorway.
§ Mr. Michael HeseltineProgramming of the busiest stretches is in hand.
§ Sir R. Russellasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how the mileage of motorways in Great Britain with a crash barrier along the central reservation compares with that in France, Germany, Italy and the United States, according to information available to him from international sources.
§ Mr. Michael HeseltineAt 31st March, 1970 there were 66 miles of central reserve safety fences on motorways in England; this figure does not include safety fences at bridge piers or similar obstructions.
Information from abroad is not generally available on the mileage laid but the criteria used in different countries results in the very extensive provision of 118W safety fences. Criteria with some information on lengths laid are given below:
France—new auto routes with 5 metres reserves and traffic volume exceeding 15,000 vehicles per day: 240 kilometres provided.Germany—all motorways: 4,050 kilometres provided (March, 1970).Italy—1,750 kilometres provided.United States—No mileage figures are available but it is known that the percentage of motorway type roads equipped with safety fences on central reserves is small because the width of reserves makes them unnecessary, except in mountainous parts.