§ Mr. McCrindleTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the cost of building the M12; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyThe estimated works cost of the proposed new motorway from M25 to south of Chelmsford is £45 million, as set out in the recent White Paper "Roads for Prosperity".
§ Mr. McCrindleTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) on what basis a new M12 was preferred to widening and improving the existing A12; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what consideration was given to widening and improving the A12, before the M12 link between Chelmsford and the M25 was announced; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyConsultants appointed by the Department to carry out a scheme identification study of the A12 considered a number of options including widening of the existing road. A road linking M25 with the A12 near Chelmsford was chosen because it represented the best option for relieving both routes, including the congested Brook street interchange.