§ 46. Mr. Spriggsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is able to cost the repair of motorways in each of the last three years, respectively; how many miles of such roads have been under repair in each of the above years; and whether he is able to explain the cause of the mileage of motorways under constant repair since these roads were opened.
§ Mr. CarmichaelFollowing is the information—
The total maintenance costs of motorways for the past three years were:—
1971–72 £4,642,247 1972–73 £5,844,095 1973–74 £5,998,480 (to date) These figures include cleansing, hedge and grass-cutting, snow clearing, etc.
The approximate lengths of motorway which have been under substantial repair at some time in the year over the past three years are:
1971–72
60 miles of a total of 698 miles of motorway.1972–73
85 miles of a total of 932 miles of motorway.1973–74
112 miles of a total of 1,051 miles of motorway.No section of motorway has been constantly under repair, but the heavy volumes of traffic carried by these roads have 125W necessarily required continuing maintenance and repair throughout the period, and this will continue to be the case.