§ Mr. Robert Banksasked the Secretary of State for Transport what is his estimate of the number of hours lost and the resulting costs to British industry caused by traffic delays through roadworks on dual carriageways and motorways.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyRecords are not kept of total delays caused by roadworks on dual carriageways and motorways. Delay costs are only assessed on major lane rental schemes. During 1985– 86 12 contracts were let on this basis. Total site occupation time was 727 days resulting in delay costs to the travelling public of about £ 11. 5 million. Had the contracts been on a conventional basis, it is estimated that site occupation would have been 1,227 days and delay costs £ 19.5 million.
Lane rental has now been extended to most major maintenance schemes where there are likely to be significant delays.