§ Mr. Fryasked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will provide information concerning the proposed design standards of the M1-A1 link on the route from the Midlands to the East Coast ports; and whether account is being taken of the economic advantages of a motorway on which commercial transport is permitted to travel at higher speeds that on all-purpose dual-carriageway roads.
§ Mr. William RodgersDesign standards for the M1-A1 link road are still being considered but it is expected to be largely single carriageway. All relevant factors, including the economic advantages of a route on which lorries would be permitted to travel at a higher speed, will be considered in the light of the 585W recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Trunk Road Assessment.
§ Mr. Fryasked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects that construction of the M1-A1 link in the route from the Midlands to the East Coast ports will commence and be completed; and whether plans for this are being expedited in view of his assurances that routes to the ports are receiving priority.
§ Mr. William RodgersDetailed investigations are continuing into the preferred corridor. Subject to the satisfactory completion of the statutory procedures, construction of sections of the proposed new road could start in the early 1980s.