HC Deb 06 August 1980 vol 990 cc198-200W
Mr. Rooker

asked the Minister of Transport if it will be possible to repair the dropped steel beams of the elevated section of the M6 motorway at the Gravelly Hill interchange at the point over the canal where his agents have erected an inspection platform without closing both north and south bound carriageways at the same time; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Fowler

Yes. We do not anticipate having to close either carriageway.

Mr. Rooker

asked the Minister of Transport if his Department has any plan, in the event of the closure of the M6 motorway in a north and south direction between junctions 6 and 7, to organise traffic flows by routes and temporary closures which guarantee that short cuts cannot be made via unauthorised roads; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Fowler

No, because we do not envisage any need for closure.

Mr. Rooker

asked the Minister of Transport if he is satisfied that his Department's agents for the maintenance of the Midland link motorway are maintaining a duty of care to the general public by leaving the access ladder to the inspection platform under the M6 motorway at Gravelly Hill interchange in place on a public canal towpath during weekends when his agents are not using the platform.

Mr. Fowler

I shall inquire into the circumstances of this and write to the hon. Member.

Mr. Rooker

asked the Minister of Transport if any journalists attending the press facility arranged by his Department at the M6 motorway viaducts on Monday 7 July were invited to see any of the 17 locations where the steel beams have dropped due to bearing failure and which were referred to in his reply to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Perry Barr. Official Report, 21 July.

Mr. Fowler

I understand that it was explained to reporters and photographers that they were free to inspect any part of the elevated sections of the M6 they wished to see, subject to the practicability of access. Two representatives of the press subsequently inspected the Gravelly Hill location. It was also made clear that the principal inspection reports prepared by independent consulting engineers, which list all known defects which require attention, could be made available to anyone who wished to see them.

Mr. Rooker

asked the Minister of Transport what study he has made of reports and comments in the technical press following the press facility at the M6 motorway viaducts arranged by his Department on 7 July.

Mr. Fowler

I have seen the reports in theBirmingham Post, Construction News and the satirical magazine Private Eye.

Mr. Rooker

asked the Minister of Transport if, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Perry Barr, Official Report, 31 July, c. 842, the inspections of concrete support pillars of the Midland link motorways will result in any repair work of any nature to any of the pillars; and, if so, whether he will give details.

Mr. Fowler

The inspections have not so far demonstrated any need for repairs to the pillars.

Mr. Rooker

asked the Minister of Transport if, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Perry Barr, Official Report, 31 July, he will publish details of the locations of the 17 places where the steel beams have dropped due to bearing or bearing plinth failure on the elevated sections of the Midland link motorways; and if he will make a statement on the repair timetable.

Mr. Fowler

Four were on the Bescot viaduct, one at Titford and 10 on the Oldbury section. All of these have already been repaired. A further two faults were discovered this summer at Gravelly Hill and will be repaired within the next few months.

Mr. Rooker

asked the Minister of Transport if any of the 17 steel beams which have dropped due to bearing or bearing plinth failure on the Midland link motorways are in the same line under a road joint or over the same row of concrete pillars.

Mr. Fowler

Two of the four faults at Bescot and the two faults at Gravelly Hill were under a road joint while eight of the faults discovered at the Oldbury section were in line. The other failures were isolated occurrencies.