§ Mr. PawseyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Rugby and Kenilworth,Official Report, 23 February column 153, on the percentage of traffic using the M1 which will use the M40, what is the basis for his Department's calculation that a two-lane M40 extension will be adequate to meet expected traffic flows.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyThe M40 motorway extension between Oxford and Birmingham is proposed to he built as a dual three-lane motorway except for the section 405W between Waterstock and Wendlebury, where dual two-lanes are proposed. The forecast flows between Waterstock and Wendlebury in 2,006 are in the range 30,000 to 38,000 vehicles per day. This is well below the desirable maximum flow of 54,000 vehicles per day for a dual two-lane motorway. We await the inspector's report on the public inquiry into the proposals for the Waterstock to Wendlebury section.
§ Mr. PawseyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 23 February,Official Report, column 153, what is the evidence on which he bases his estimate that between 11 per cent. and 17 per cent. of traffic presently using the M1 will use the M40 when it is complete.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyThe estimates of the traffic effects of building the M40 extension, including the transfer of traffic from the M1, were based on forecasts derived from the Oxford to Birmingham route traffic model developed by the Department for use in designing the scheme.