§ Mr. David Youngasked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the initial cost per mile of each motorway, expressed in current prices; and if he will estimate the cost per mile for repair and maintenance for each motorway over each of the past five years.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe average cost of construction of inter-urban motorways built since 1974 is, at current prices, £3.5 million per mile for dual two-lane routes and £4.8 million per mile for dual three-lane routes; but, mainly owing to differences in the terrain, there are wide variations from the average.
Routine maintenance of motorways currently costs about £12,000 per mile each year. Major strengthening works and structural renewals, which can be expected to arise between 15 and 20 years after construction, currently cost between £400,000 per mile for resurfacing and up to £1.6 million per mile where reconstruction is necessary.