§ Mr. LathamTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the terminal date for completion of the road works near junction 12 on the north-bound carriageway of the M1; what financial incentive has been provided to the contractor to complete the work ahead of schedule; and what quantification he has made in financial terms of the cost to business and industry from the daily congestion and delay there.
§ Mr. Atkins[holding answer 27 October 1989]: The works are likely to finish in mid-November, about a month ahead of the original programme. The contract was let on a lane-rental basis with the contractor paying a fee to the Department related to the amount of carriageway space he 99W uses. The fee in this case is a maximum of £25,000 per day. This provides considerable incentive to complete the works early. The lane rental fee is based on the estimated cost of delays to the travelling public. Calculations take into account the range of vehicles and whether business or leisure use is involved.
§ Mr. LathamTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will specify any action taken by his Department to minimise the delay and inconvenience caused to road users by the major road works near junction 12 on the north-bound carriageway of the M1 since July; and why there has been no use of contraflow techniques.
§ Mr. Atkins[holding answer 27 October 1989]: Lane rental has been used to encourage the contractor to complete the works in the shortest possible time consistent with quality and price. The traffic management arrangements use the minimum road space necessary for safe and efficient working on the site. In the current phase of lane closures the cones are removed during peak hours to enable three lanes to be open. Contraflow has, where appropriate, been used throughout the contract.