§ Mr. Wigginasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of 158W the modifications to the design of box-girder bridges which were necessary and, where construction has started, the approximate opening dates.
§ Mr. Graham PageThe following bridges have been strengthened by the addition of extra steel amounting to up to 61½ per cent. of the original weight of material:
- (i) Bridges in Service (5)
- D.O.E.: M6 Accommodation Bridges (4) Local Authority: Bradford St. Bolton.
- (ii) New bridges now open to traffic
- D.O.E.: A20(M) Ditton By-Pass Bridges (2) Local Authority: Violett Road, Tower Hamlets.
Of the other 20 bridges in service where strengthening work is known to be required work of a similar extent has started or is about to start in the case of the following:
Approximate Completion Date Rosebank A56 Mid-March, 1972 Letchworth Road A1(M) Herts End-Feb., 1972 Midland Links Oldbury (M5) and West Bromwich (M5) End-April, 1972 At least 27 of the 31 English bridges currently under construction will require some measure of strengthening. I am not yet in a position to state in all cases the extent to which this work may affect the programme opening dates. If my hon. Friend will let me know of any in which he is specially interested I will write to him.