§ Mr. Newensasked the Minister of Transport what consideration was given to the plan for a Lea Valley motorway submitted by Mr. Barry Fineburg in connection with the Committee stages of part I of the City of London (Various Powers) Act 1979, dealing with the Epping Forest section of the proposed M25 motorway; if he will publish any in-depth study made of this or similar proposals; and why the project was rejected.
§ Mr. FowlerThis proposal was examined in the light of earlier studies, the 1969 inquiry into the M11 and progress on the M25. The study was carried as far as was necessary to confirm that it would make no sense to forgo at this stage the benefits which completion between now and 1983 of the Al to M20 section of the M25, including the second Dartford tunnel which is now open, would bring to traffic (including that to the ports) and to the traffic-plagued communities to the north and east of London. The M25 would still be needed even if a Lea Valley route were built—which could not be for at least a decade.
The point was raised briefly on the fourth day of the Committee proceedings on the Bill. I am sending the hon. Member the relevant extract together with the proof of further evidence of the results of traffic studies prepared for but not required at the committee's hearings.
§ Mr. Newensasked the Minister of Transport what is the latest assessment of the total cost of the construction of the Essex section of the proposed M25 motorway.
§ Mr. FowlerIt is not possible to isolate the cost of the Essex section because the route crosses the boundary between Essex and Greater London several times and contract boundaries do not correspond with county boundaries. The esti-76W mated cost of the length from the Essex boundary east of Waltham Cross to the Dartford tunnel approach road is £165 million at today's prices. Of this 24-mile length, about 19 miles are in Essex.