§ 25. Mr. Jim MarshallTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has as to how many local authority-maintained road bridges are in need of repair.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyThe bridge census and sample survey of January 1987 identified some 50,000 bridges in Great Britain on local authority roads which were covered by the bridge assessment code for older short-span highway bridges (1984). The estimated number of these not meeting the standards of that code was about 11,000.
§ 33. Ms. QuinTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the estimated cost or repairing all of his Department's maintained bridges.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyWe estimate that about £50 million a year is needed for ongoing maintenance required to keep pace with deterioration. In addition we announced in November 1987 a programme of assessment and strengthening of some older bridges, and of upgrading certain bridges to higher standards.
§ 42. Mrs. BeckettTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the estimated cost of repairing all local authority-maintained bridges.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyThe bridge census and sample survey estimated that the cost of strengthening to the 1984 standard the 11,000 older short span highway bridges in Great Britain on roads which are the responsibility of local highway authorities could be some £700 million.