§ Mr. Monroasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the lengths in miles, respectively, of the M74 and A74 in Scotland.
§ Mr. McElhone13½ miles and 69½ miles, respectively, of trunk road for which the Secretary of State is highway authority. There is, in addition, a length of A74 within the former Glasgow city boundary for which Strathclyde Regional Council is the highway authority.
§ Mr. Monroasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the approximate lengths in miles, respectively, of the central barriers on the M74 and A74 in Scotland.
§ Mr. McElhoneThere are about two and a half miles of central barrier on the A74 between Blacklaw Farm and Beattock Bypass. There are also shorter lengths on the M74 and A74 at particular hazards, such as bridge piers and other obstructions on the central reservation, and where the carriageways are at markedly different levels.
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§ Mr. Monroasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the approximate cost per mile of erecting a central barrier on the M74 and A74, respectively.
§ Mr. McElhoneAbout £25,000 to £30,000
§ Mr. Monroasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what length of central barrier will be completed this year and in 1977, respectively, on the M74 and A74.
§ Mr. McElhoneAbout two and a half miles this year. Further lengths will be added when I am satisfied they are justified.
§ Mr. Monroasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the number of fatal accidents and fatalities, respectively, on the M74 and A74 between 1st May 1975 and 1st May 1976, and between 1st May 1974 and 1st May 1975.
§ Mr. McElhoneStatistics to 1st May 1976 are not available: figures which are readily available are given as follows.
Direction of Travel Accidents Fatalities Northbound Southbound January-December 1975 A74 … … … … 22 16 10 12 M74 … … … … 3 1 2 1 January-April 1976 A74 … … … … 5 1 3 2 M74 … … … … 1 5 Nil 1
§ Mr. Monroasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the number of prosecutions for exceeding the speed limit on the M74 and A74, respectively, between 1st May 1975 and 1st May 1976, both for commercial and private vehicles.
§ Mr. McElhoneIt is not the practice to maintain prosecution statistics for separate stretches of road, but in recent months an exception has been made for the A74. From 1st July 1975 to 28th April 1976, the numbers of cases reported by the police to the procurator fiscal for speeding were 889 in respect of private vehicles and 492 in respect of commercial vehicles. Statistics for the M74 are not available and could not be obtained without undue expenditure and effort.
§ Mr. Monroasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will erect 60
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1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 A74† … … … … 1,112,877 630,783 393,586 1,139,388 1,326,500* M74 … … … … 78,009 142,666 26,688 130,841 94,500* † Including associated work on A75 in connection with Gretna Bypass. *Provisional.
Fatal Accidents Fatalities January-December 1974 A74 16 18 M74 1 2 January-December 1975 A74 16 33 M74 2 2 1st January-27th April 1976 A74 5 6 M74 1 5 These figures do not include the short stretch of A74 north of M74.
§ Mr. Monroasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the number of crossover accidents on the M74 and A74 between 1st May 1975 and 1st May 1976, giving also the number of fatalities and if possible the direction of travel of the vehicle primarily involved.
§ Mr. McElhoneInformation cannot readily be provided for the periods requested or for the short stretch of A74 north of M74. The figures for crossover accidents on the remainder of the road in Scotland are as follows:
miles per hour speed limit signs at either end of the A74, and at various points along its length whilst the fuel saving speed limit is in force.
§ Mr. McElhoneI would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 6th August 1975.—[Vol. 897, c.244–5.]
§ Mr. Monroasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what total expenditure will be spent in 1976–77 on road improvements to the A74 and M74, respectively; and what was the expenditure for each of the past five years.
§ Mr. McElhoneIn 1976–77 expenditure of approximately £1 million and £120,000 is planned on A74 and M74, respectively, on improvement schemes, resurfacing and other minor works. Corresponding expenditure for the previous five years has been: