§ Mr. Lathamasked the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate his Department has made of the cost to business and industry of regular delays to traffic on newly constructed motorways such as the M1 to M25 link, and the approaches to it; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyEstimates of the cost to road users of delays to traffic are generally made only in the context of specific proposals which will affect traffic conditions. Such proposals include road improvement schemes and arrangements during major maintenance. For proposed motorways, estimates are therefore made of the benefits from faster and safer journeys compared with conditions which would have existed had the motorway not be built. These appraisals take account of peak traffic flows and the effects on traffic on the approach roads. For the south-west sector of the M25, conditions are busier than anticipated and studies of the benefits of widening and other improvements are currently being undertaken.
It is expected that increased driver familiarity with the M1–M25 slip roads layout will reduce delays.
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§ Mr. Lathamasked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will list any significant motorway lane closures or roadworks which have been necessary within two months of the opening of any new stretch of motorway within the last two years; what is the specific situation regarding recently opened sections of the M25; and what action has been taken to reduce the cost to public funds of any necessary remedial measures.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyThe only significant lane closures occurred on the M25 motorway between junction 14 and Palmers Moor bridge, where there have been five lane closures, totalling 19 days.
These closures were necessary to enable the contractor to complete certain minor works which, by agreement, had been left unfinished at the time the motorway was opened to traffic. Normally, remedial work during the 12 months following completion is at the contractor's expense.
§ Mr. Lathamasked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will make a statement on the traffic flow on the M1 and M25 motorways, especially between 7.30 am and 11.30 am and between 4 pm and 8 pm; to what factors he attributes the regular congestion in those periods; and what action he proposes to remedy the situation.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyThe volume of traffic using certain sections and junctions of both M1 and M25 causes some localised peak hour delays. We have a number of measures already in hand to improve traffic flows and are currently looking to see what further action is required.
§ Mr. Lathamasked the Secretary of State for Transport what estimates of hourly traffic flow at peak periods were made by his Department when preparing for the direct link between the M1 and M25 motorways; what has been the actual outturn; and to what extent his traffic forecasts assume uninterrupted traffic flow at normal motorway speeds during peak periods.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyI shall answer this question shortly.
§ Mr. Lathamasked the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has about the reason why traffic which had been flowing freely on the southbound carriageway of the M1 near to junction 11 at 10.58 am on 26 November had to come to an immediate halt in all three lanes without any prior warning; why the warning lights were not in operation to advise drivers to slow down in advance; and why serious congestion continued between junctions 11 and 9 at that time.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyI know of no specific cause for the delays. Traffic flows on the southbound carriageway are normally high at this time of day and even a slight distraction for drivers could cause traffic to slow down and cause congestion which would take time to clear. Three accidents within the preceding two hours on the northbound carriageway, between junctions 9 and 10, may have had such an effect. It is for the police, who control the emergency signals, to decide whether they should be switched on. Automatic signals will be put on trial in the near future on the M1 northbound carriageway between junctions 10 and 19. These would, if successful, warn of congestion ahead. I will consider whether their use should, in due course, be extended or whether other forms of warning should be provided.