§ Mrs. Clwydasked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what forecast he can make of closures of the Severn bridge at weekends over the next six months due to repair work to the bridge; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he will give a progress report on (a) the state of repair work on the Severn bridge, (b) the likely position over the next months as it affects traffic crossing the Severn and (c) his plans for a second crossing.
§ Mrs. ChalkerDesign work and further technical studies in connection with the strengthening programme are in hand. Strengthening works are expected to start on site later this year. In the autumn various maintenance and renewal works will also be carried out. None of the works during the next six months will involve complete closures of the crossing. Limited lane closures will be needed, but mostly at off-peak times.
On 19 July my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport announced the names of the consultants who will carry out a study into how a second crossing might be provided. The outcome of that study will be one of the matters taken into account when a decision is made whether to build a second crossing.