HC Deb 27 March 1979 vol 965 cc161-2W
Mr. Monro

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many towns in Scotland with a population over 10,000 have trunk bypasses; what proportion this represents; how many will have bypasses by 1990; how many towns over 10.000 population have no trunk roads; how many with no trunk roads have bypasses; what proportion this represents; how many will have bypasses by 1990; how much money is required to ensure that by 1990 all towns over 10,000 population will have (a) either a trunk road bypass or (b) a local road bypass; and what increase this would represent on the present trunk road construction budget and local road construction budget.

Mr. Gregor MacKenzie

The 1971 census showed 58 towns in Scotland with a population of over 10,000. Of these, 37 are—or have at one time been—situated on trunk routes of which 16—or 43 per cent.—have been bypassed. Bypasses of five others are expected to be completed by the mid-1980s. Of the remaining 21 towns not on trunk routes, none has bypasses and, according to the transport policies and programmes prepared by the regional councils, one only is expected to be bypassed by the mid-1980s.

On the basis of the trunk road and motorway improvement programme for which my right hon. Friend is responsible and also the Scottish local authorities' road programmes, as published in their transport policies and programmes, only those schemes with estimated completion dates in the mid-1980s are included in the above figures.

It is not possible to give an estimate of the cost of providing bypasses because the cost can vary substantially depending on the line selected.

Where traffic flows are relatively low a bypass might not be the most appropriate solution to traffic problems. In such places a more effective answer might be to introduce improved traffic management measures or an inner relief road.