§ Mr. Pawseyasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will arrange for lane markings on the M1 on the approaches to the M25 relating to the laning of traffic passing through the junction to begin sufficiently far from the junction that at peak times and current levels of congestion traffic has sufficient warning of the junction arrangements to enter the correct lane before reaching the stretch likely to be congested; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyThe problem at junction 6 between M1 and A405 will largely disappear when the M1/M25 interchange is opened in the autumn.
I am grateful for my hon. Friend's suggestion. Arrangements are being made to provide temporary carriageway markings and appropriate road signs on the southbound carriageway of M1 approaching junction 6.
§ Mr. Pawseyasked the Secretary of State for Transport if, further to the reply to the hon. Member for Rugby and Kenilworth, he will take immediate steps to ensure that traffic can move more quickly from the M1 to the M25.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyTraffic signals have already been erected at the junctions of A405 with M1 and with M25 to and from the west. A dedicated lane has also been provided to permit traffic from the M1 southbound exit slip road to filter on to A405. These measures have made congestion less severe than it would otherwise have been. Physical constraints make it impossible to do much more in the comparatively short time before the M1–M25 interchange is opened.
§ Mr. Pawseyasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will investigate the possibility of using the hard shoulder of the M1 as an additional lane for traffic leaving the motorway to join the M25.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyThe hard shoulder adjacent to the southbound carriageway of the M1 immediately north of junction 6 narrows considerably at the A40528W overbridge, at the point where the southbound exit slip road begins. This constraint makes it impracticable to use the hard shoulder as a running lane.