§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Transport how many accidents have occurred on the dual two-lane section of the M1 between junctions 7 and 5 during each of the past five years; and what is the estimated cost of the damage sustained, the charge to public services and approximate date for converting each two-lane section into three-lane routes.
§ Mr. HoramThe information requested is available for injury accidents only, as follows:
1972 50 1973 62 1974 42 1975 38 1976 (11 months) 43 The actual cost of these accidents is not known. The average cost to the community of a motorway injury accident is estimated to be of the order of £5,000 at June 1976 prices.
My right hon. Friend is now considering the inspector's report on the public inquiry held in June 1976 into the Department's proposals planned to start in late 1979 to improve the M1 between junctions 5 and 7 to a combination of dual three- and four-lane carriageway standards.
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has been able to identify sections of the M1 between junctions 7 and 5 where accidents are likely to occur; what would be the cost of piecemeal widening of the route at these locations; and whether staging of the works will be considered.
250W
§ Mr. HoramAccidents are likely to occur where three lanes of traffic are forced into two, as in the vicinities of junctions 5 and 7. Piecemeal widening, the results of which would create similar points of conflict, has not, therefore, been considered, and accordingly no estimate of cost is available and the question of staging works does not arise.