§ Mr. Knoxasked the Secretary of State for Transport why traffic moving in a northerly direction in the area where repairs are being undertaken on the M1 in Northamptonshire was able to travel at a speed of only 6 m.p.h. between 8.30 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Thursday 6th April 1978; and what steps he intends to take to ensure that similar delays do not recur while the current repair work is being undertaken.
§ Mr. HoramWork on bridges over the motorway necessitates the closure of one carriageway and this results in only one lane being available for traffic in one direction. This traffic's maximum speed is therefore determined by the front vehicle. There is no record of what caused the slow journey specified in the hon. member's question but it may have been a heavily loaded vehicle on the uphill length of road affected.
4WTo minimise the incidence and effects of such delays, work on the bridges on the M1 in Northants is being carried out at night, commencing at 1900, and while the contra-flow arrangements are in operation the police are present and emergency recovery vehicles stand by.