National Roads Programme (Hansard, 19 December 1994)

§ Dr. Mawhinney

I have made it clear that the trunk road network is broadly complete. Our priority now must be to make the most effective use of the existing network—especially motorways—and to build to remove congestion and pollution blackspots.

I have instructed the Highways Agency to remove three major motorway bottlenecks. They cause congestion and pollution and damage the economic well-being of the country. They also cause frustration and diversion on to smaller, more unsuitable roads.

The schemes are: phase one of the widening of the MI between junctions 21 and 21A, at a cost of about £15 million, which is required to avoid congestion when the Leicester western bypass opens in 1995; widening the M25 between junctions 8 and 10 from Reigate to the junction with the A3 at Wisley, at a cost of about £75 million. This adds a fourth lane in each direction within the existing boundary. Adjoining sections are currently being widened or already have been; building the M1-M621 link road, to the south of Leeds, at a cost of about £12 million. This will remove severe congestion at the junction of two important motorways.

I have also instructed the Highways Agency to proceed with four important schemes in London.

In line with the priority to improve the orbital network in London, two schemes are to be taken forward on the north circular road: A406 Silver street to Fore street improvement, costing about £34 million and A406/Al/A598 Regents' park costing about £50 million.

The other two schemes will improve the western approach to the capital, relieving congestion and improving blackspots: the A40 Gypsy corner at a cost of about £26 million and the A40 western circus junction improvement at a cost of about £27 million.

In addition, I will be funding a further 12 new contracts, including the A564 Derby southern bypass, at a cost of about £475 million.

By redirecting resources, I shall no longer be proceeding immediately with a further six publicly funded schemes where work was scheduled to begin in 1994–95. We will consider taking four of them forward by design, build finance and operate contracts.

The private sector is playing an ever increasing role in delivering transport infrastructure. The Department is already in the process of preparing tenders for the first four major road building projects to be designed, built, financed and operated by the private sector.

There is huge interest from the City and industry in this private-public sector partnership and we can expect many more schemes with an increased role for the private sector 875W over the next few years. Work on the other schemes scheduled to start in 1994–95 will wait until there is space in the programme.

For one other scheme—the A34 Newbury bypass—I have concluded that work should be delayed while further consideration is given to the proposed route. I reached this view after a private visit to Newbury to examine the existing A34 and the proposed bypass route. I have asked the Highways Agency to look again at the plans for the bypass and to explore other options. Once the agency has reported back to me I will make a further announcement. I would expect to be in a position to do this in about a year's time, when I announce road scheme starts for 1996–97.

These proposals mean that significant progress will be made with the Stoke to Derby link, in addition to the Foston Hatton-Hilton bypass currently under construction; work will start on the Derby southern bypass, and phase two of the Blythe bridge to Queensway improvement; and the Doveridge bypass is a candidate for a DBFO contract.

A full list of the schemes covered by this announcement is available in the Library of the House.