HC Deb 21 May 1991 vol 191 cc462-3W
Sir Hector Monro

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give for the A74(a) the name of each section to be rebuilt as a motorway, (b) the state of preparation of the plans for each section, (c) the order in which each section will be constructed and (d) the estimated starting date for each section.

Mr. Lang

[holding answer 20 May 1991]: The information requested is as follows:

  1. (a) Millbank to Nether Abington (11.5 km)
    • Nether Abington to Elvanfoot (7.7 km)
    • Elvanfoot to Paddy's Rickle Bridge (4.3 km)
    • Paddy's Rickle Bridge to Harthope (6.6 km)
    • Harthope to Middlegill (6.3 km)
    • Middlegill to Beattock (4.2 km)
    • Beattock to Annanbank (10.5 km)
    • Annanbank to Dinwoodie Green (4.9 km)
    • Dinwoodie Green to Muirhouse (5.1 km)
    • Muirhouse to Water of Milk (5.9 km)
    • Water of Milk to Ecclefechan (4.9 km)
    • Ecclefechan to Eaglesfield (5.3 km)
    • Eaglesfield to Kirkpatrick Fleming (6 km)
    • Kirkpatrick Fleming to Gretna (7.1 km)
    463
  2. (b) (1) Under construction
    • Millbank to Nether Abington—scheduled to be completed in November 1991
    • Elvanfoot to Paddy's Rickle Bridge—scheduled to be completed in July 1992 (but programmed by the contractor to finish earlier)
    • Kirkpatrick Fleming to Gretna—scheduled to be completed in October 1992
  3. (2) Statutory procedures completed
    • Nether Abington—Elvanfoot
    • Dinwoodie Green—Muirhouse
    • Muirhouse—Water of Milk
  4. (3) Draft orders published
    • Paddy's Rickle Bridge—Harthope
    • Harthope—Middlegill
    • Water of Milk—Ecclefechan
    • Ecclefechan—Eaglesfield
    • Eaglesfield—Kilpatrick Fleming
  5. (4) Draft proposals expected to be published by the end of this year
    • Middlegill—Beattock
    • Beattock—Annanbank
    • Annanbank—Dinwoodie Green

The Scottish Office Environment department has identified the Nether Abington to Elvanfoot and Muirhouse to Water of Milk, Lockerbie, sections as the next priorities for construction and the first of these has been included among the trunk road schemes scheduled to start in Scotland during the current financial year.

No decision has been made as to the order in which subsequent schemes will be built but, in deciding this, consideration will be given to such matters as minimising disruption to traffic, completing lengths between junctions and use of excess excavated material from some schemes for others with a deficit. Decisions on the schemes to be constructed in any particular financial year are taken annually each spring and will depend on the relative priority attached to the scheme and the resources available.