§ Mr. Jannerasked the Minister for Transport whether he will take steps to avoid the carrying out of roadworks on the M1 between London and Leeds during peak holiday traffic periods.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyRoadworks involving lane closures on motorways and trunk roads are suspended during peak holiday periods wherever possible. It is not always possible to avoid having some roadworks at these 53W times. Sometimes it is more inconvenient for road users if large contraflows are removed during peak holiday periods and then replaced because of the additional traffic restrictions required and the consequent overall increase in time taken to complete the works.
Any emergency repairs must go ahead.
§ Mr. Jannerasked the Minister for Transport how many man-hours he estimates to have been lost due to delays caused by roadworks on the M 1 during the past 12 months.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyRecords are not kept of total delays at M1 roadworks. On major lane rental schemes—costing over £0.5 million—delay costs are assessed on a daily basis. During the 12 months to 30 September 1987 10 major maintenance schemes were carried out by lane rental (compared with four under conventional contracts). The total site occupation was 680 days resulting in delay costs of £15 million. Lane rental saved an estimated 250 days and about £7 million compared with the time and resources which would have been spent had all contracts been on a conventional basis.