HL Deb 27 July 1983 vol 443 c1614WA
Lord Underhill

asked Her Majesty's Government:

  1. (a) what is the total number of public road bridges in the ownership of
    1. (i) nationalised transport industries,
    2. (ii) highway authorities;
  2. (b) what is the total estimated cost of bringing those bridges up to the standards which would be required following the introduction of the 38 tonne lorry on to roads in the United Kingdom, if the Public Road Bridge Assessment Draft Code issued by the Department of Transport is adopted; and
  3. (c) whether they will give an assurance that additional funds will be provided to the nationalized industries/public authorities concerned, for the strengthening of such bridges as are found to be below the standards which would be required by the code.

Lord Lucas of Chilworth

(a) Accurate numbers of public road bridges belonging to the different highway authorities and nationalised transport industries are not available, but a sample survey undertaken in 1981 indicates the following figures:

(i) British Rail and London Transport 12,000
British Waterways Board 1,000
(ii) Local highway authorities 129,000
Her Majesty's Government 13,000
(i.e. on motorways and trunk roads)

(b) No estimate of the cost of rehabilitating those bridges that would be affected by the proposed new code can be made before the assessments have been done. The need for the new assessment code arises primarily from the volume and loading of heavy vehicles permitted before the introduction of the new 38 tonne lorry, the axle spacings of which are restricted so that, except for a marginal 3 per cent. increase on some short-span bridges, no greater loading is imposed.

(c) Her Majesty's Government is discussing with the local authority associations how any additional expenditure by local authorities on their bridges will be decided upon. It will be open to British Rail to include bridge rehabilitation expenditure on their annual Public Service Obligation grant claim or to make a case for separate treatment.