§ Mr. Simon Coombsasked the Secretary of State for Transport what is his estimate of the additional cost of providing three-lane capacity on that section of the M40 280W for which he is currently proposing two lanes; and what this represents as a percentage of the total cost of the proposal for this section.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyThe estimated cost of the published proposals for the dual two-lane Waterstock to Wendlebury section of the M40 is £57.5 million. This includes provision for earthworks and structures to accommodate a dual three-lane motorway when traffic justifies it. It would cost an additional £4 million—7 per cent. of the cost — to provide the third lanes at the outset.