§ 58. Mr. MadelTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what further measures he is considering to ease traffic congestion on the M25 and M1 in the south-east; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyThe whole motorway and trunk road network is kept under review and schemes for improvement are brought forward for consideration wherever they can be justified.
Specific schemes already under construction are the widening of the M25 between junctions 11 and 13 and the new four-lane Dartford river crossing bridge. Schemes being prepared are the provision of crawler lanes in both directions on the M1 at junction 9 and improvements to junction 1 of the M1.
Completion of the extension of the M40 to Birmingham, will attract traffic away from the M1, as will improvements planned for the A5 in Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire.
Consultants are currently undertaking a review of the whole of the M25. This will identify existing and potential 163W problem areas on the M25 and adjacent areas of radial road and suggest solutions. The results of the review are expected in the new year. We have recently received and are considering the results of a more specific study of the problems of traffic congestion around junctions 15 and 16 of the M25.