§ Mr. Wallerasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the traffic flow through the Dartford tunnel (a) prior to the opening of the adjoining sections of the M25 motorway, (b) following the opening of these motorway sections and (c) expected when the M25 is fully open to traffic.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThe section of the M25 south of the Darford tunnel was completed in 1977. The average annual two-way traffic flows for the preceding and subsequent years were 27,000 and 28,000 vehicles per day respectively. The section of the M25 to the north of the tunnel was opened in April this year and I understand from the local authority concerned that the daily average traffic flow for March was 34,000 and that for May was 41,000. When the M25 is complete, traffic flows are currently expected to be between 65,000 and 78,000 vehicles per day.