§ Mr. Marlandasked the Secretary of State for Transport whether the offical working party set up to look at the potential need for a further Severn crossing has reported; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. FowlerYes. I have placed a copy of the report in the Library. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I accept its main conclusion that the Severn bridge will continue to provide a satisfactory crossing for industrial and commercial traffic until the early years of the next century, although some delays will occur from time to time at peak periods, mainly summer weekends and there will have to be occasional lane closures for422W maintenance work. A feasibility study for a new crossing need not, therefore, be undertaken at present, hut the position will be kept under review.
The working group also recommended that the Department, in conjunction with the Welsh Office, should improve traffic management on the bridge; advise motorists about alternative routes during holiday periods; review contingency plans and give greater publicity to alternative routes for use in emergencies; and consider the priority of improvement schemes on alternative routes. We are implementing these recommendations.
On the alternative routes priority is being given to the Gloucester northern bypass, for which a contract was let in May, the Northleach bypass, which we hope to start next year, the new Wye bridge at Chepstow and the relief road for A40 traffic at Ross-on-Wye. In addition, we intend to replace the existing A40 trunk route through Cheltenham by trunking the A436 south of the town and providing a new interchange with the M5 at Brockworth. The possibility of giving higher priority to the Brockworth bypass is being considered as part of our current review of the trunk road programme.