§ Mr. CryerTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will state the estimated cost of strengthening bridges and widening roads were the maximum weight of lorries increased to(a) to 40 tonnes and (b) 44 tonnes; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter Bottomley[holding answer 13 May 1988]: The bridge census and sample survey report of March last year estimated that it would cost about £750 million to strengthen road bridges to meet the standards of the Department's bridge assessment code, which covers 40 and 44-tonne vehicles with 10.5 tonne drive axles.
Strengthening to meet the higher EC standard, for a 40-tonne vehicle with 11.5 tonne drive axle, would increase this cost a little. No additional expenditure should be needed to widen roads solely for heavier lorries.