§ Mr. Speedasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the latest estimated starting and completion dates for all sections of the M20, M25 and M26 motorways.
§ Mr. HoramI give below the time bands within which, subject to the completion of the statutory procedures and the availability of funds, construction of all sections of the M20, M25 and M26 not yet begun or open to traffic is expected to start:
M20 Maidstone to Ashford 1980–1982 Ashford to Folkestone 1978–1979 M25 Swanley to Sevenoaks 1980–1982 Reigate to Wisley 1978–1979 Wisley to Chertsey 1978–1979 Chertsey to Thorpe 1978–1979 Egham to Yeoveney 1978–1979 Yeoveney to Heathrow Airport Spur 1978–1979 Airport Spur to M4 1980–1982 M4 to Maple Cross 1980–1982 Micklefield Green to South Mimms 1980–1982 A10 to M1l 1978–1979 M1l to A12 1978–1979 The sections of the M25 from Seven-oaks to Godstone are under construction and are expected to be open to traffic in the second half of 1979. The date for which the start of work on the section from the A12 to the A13 is now being revised.
Construction work on the section of the M20 from West Kingsdown to Wrotham, on the Sevenoaks Interchange, 41W Runnymede Bridge and the section of the M25 from the Alll to the A10, and on the M26, is expected to start later this year.
I would expect the contract periods to be from two to three years.