§ Lord SWANSEAasked Her Majesty's Government:
Why it has been necessary yet again to restrict traffic on the Severn Bridge to a single lane in each direction; when it is expected that the work will be completed; whether it is correct as reported in the Press that the bridge may have to be closed altogether for a period, and if so for how long; for how long in aggregate traffic on the bridge has been restricted in one or both directions since it was opened, and whether there is some fundamental defect in the design of the bridge which has necessitated these repeated repairs.
§ Baroness STEDMANTraffic has been restricted to one lane in each direction to enable maintenance work to be carried out on the bridge expansion joints; the work is programmed for completion by Christmas this year; it is not expected that the bridge will be closed altogether; lane restrictions were first introduced over the whole of the Severn crossing in June 1971 at the same time as they were 1075WA introduced on all other steel box girder bridges in the country. In June 1972, all four lanes of the Severn crossing were opened to traffic, with restrictions on weight and spacing. Lane closures were again introduced during the period January 1977 to May 1978 for the replacement of the rocker bearings. Therefore, up to October this year, one lane in each direction had been closed for a total period of 29 months. There have been other closures for short periods for routine inspection and repair to road surfacing. There is no fundamental defect in the design.