§ Mr. Spellerasked the Secretary of State for Transport what arrangements he is making to ensure that motorways are not restricted needlessly by coning off one or more lanes when there is not a worker or piece of plant along the particular stretch of road.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyThe Department's instructions to its agents emphasise the need to minimise coning off and, once lanes have been coned off, to complete the works and remove the cones as soon as possible. There are times when lane closures may seem unnecessary. Cones are needed to separate workmen from traffic and drivers from potential hazards such as excavated areas or setting concrete. Measures taken to reduce periods of closure include mobile lane closures for some routine maintenance activities and lane rental, a contracts regime under which works are being completed about 30 per cent. faster on average than would be the case under conventional contracts.