§ Mr. Andrew HargreavesTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department had given approval for the northbound carriageway of the M40 motorway, south of junction 5, to be reduced to one lane on 20 July, without prior publicity or warning being given to traffic before entering sliproads to join the motorway; and whether his Department will publish details of any future roadworks on the M40 over the holiday period.
§ Mr. ChopeThe lane reductions on the westbound carriageway of the M40 near junction 5 between 18 and 22 June were to enable the Department's agents—Buckinghamshire county council—to carry out safety fence maintenance.
The restrictions were during the off-peak period only, and setting up advance signing would not have been practicable. It is not the Department's policy to divert or encourage motorway traffic on to unsuitable local roads.
The M40 is presently being widened between junctions 4 and 5. This work will continue until autumn 1991. Extensive publicity has been given to this contract. The motorway may be restricted to single-lane running in each direction from 10.00 to 16.00 and 20.00 to 06.00 Monday to Thursday and 10.00 to 15.00 on Fridays. Two-lane running is maintained between 10.00 and 15.00 on Saturdays and Sundays.
I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the publicity leaflet.