§ Mr. Fryasked the Secretary of State for Transport why that part of the M25 between the M1 and the M4 was not given capacity for expansion to dual four lanes to cope with any increase in traffic flows beyond his Department's current forecasts.
§ Mrs. ChalkerI shall answer this question shortly.
§ Mr. Fryasked the Secretary of State for Transport why, given his Department's forecasts of traffic flows on the western section of the M25 and the probability of additional generated traffic, the motorway between the M4 and Chertsey was not given dual four lanes from the outset.
§ Mrs. ChalkerDual four-lanes are being provided from the outset on the M25 between junctions 15 (M4) and 14 (Poyle interchange) and between junctions 14 and 13 (Staines interchange). When the sections from junction 13 to junction 11 (Chertsey interchange) were built in the 1970s, and the timing of a future need for fourth lanes was less certain, the motorway was constructed with dual three-lanes and an extra wide central reserve to facilitate the provision of fourth lanes later.