§ Mr. Maddenasked the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of the M1 are now being repaired: how many miles are reduced to single lane; how many miles to double lane; how many miles are subject to reduced speed controls on the approaches to road works; what was the comparable situation (a) six months ago, (b) a year ago, (c) two years ago, (d) three years ago; what are the estimated completion dates for all current road works; in how many cases completion dates are likely to over-run; and what new road works are scheduled to take place in the next (i) six months, (ii) the next year and (iii) the next two years.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyInformation is readily available only for major maintenance schemes. No stretch is currently reduced to a single lane because of major maintenance work. Eighteen miles are reduced to two lanes at times and subject to temporary speed limits. In addition, variable matrix speed signals are displayed as the need arises.
Comparable information for previous periods is not available. The number of major maintenance schemes at each of the dates requested was as follows:
Number 5 May 1987 0 5 November 1986 4 5 November 1985 1 5 November 1984 0 Such schemes typically involved a two-lane contraflow not exceeding two and a half miles with advisory speed limits.
The estimated completion dates for current major maintenance schemes are as follows: 805W
J39–40 December 1987 J14–15 *5 November 1987 J9–10 13 November 1987 *Note: end of contraflow
None of these schemes is expected to over-run
New major maintenance schemes are scheduled to take place in the following locations during the remainder of this financial year:
Bedfordshire J12–13 Northamptonshire J16–17 Leicestershire J23 Five major maintenance schemes are provisionally planned for various periods in 1988–89. Further works will take place in future years; the programme for these has not yet been finalised.