M25 (Hansard, 4 May 1994)

§ Mr. Key

This question relates to operational matters of the Highways Agency. I have asked the chief executive, Mr. Lawrie Haynes, to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. John Spellar, dated 29 April 1994: The Minister for Roads and Traffic, Mr. Robert Key, has asked me to write to you in reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the M25. The cost of delays to motorists caused by construction works is assessed as part of the overall economic cost benefit analysis of motorway widening schemes. The results of this analysis are published as part of the assessment framework for each scheme. We have recently completed widening the M25 to dual four lanes between junctions 15 (M4) and 16 (M40) and two further schemes are under way between junctions 7 (M23)–8 (Reigate) and junctions 10 (A3)–11 (Chertsey) for completion during next year. Other schemes for widening most of the M25 to dual four lanes within the highway boundary were included in the recent review of the road programme and details published in the 1994 559W Review report. The total cost of widening to dual four lanes between junctions 5–28 (excluding junctions 11–15 which has been dual four lanes for some time) is approximately £672 million. Subject to the availability of funds, all these schemes should be completed over about the next 10 years. There are also schemes in the programme for increasing the capacity of the western section of the motorway beyond dual four lanes. Two of these, between junctions 12 (M3)–15 (M4) and

M25 Programme
Construction schemes	Status and Cost £ million
Widening to D4
Junctions 3 (M20)—5 (M26)	Longer term scheme, to be reviewed later.
Junctions 5 (M26)—7 (M23)	Priority 2 scheme, programme to be reviewed.
	Cost: £101.1.
Junctions 7 (M23)—8 (Reigate)	Works started in March 1994. Construction expected to take about 15 months.
	Cost £63.5.
Junctions 8 (Reigate)—10 (A3)	Proposals published February 1994 with work likely to get underway early 1995.
	Cost: £78.2.
Junctions 10 (A3)—11 (A320)	Works started in February 1994. Construction expected to take about 12 months.
	Cost: £50.5.
Junctions 11–15	Already D4 standard
Junctions 15 (M4)—16 (M40)	Construction started 4 January 1993. The works completed end April 1994.
	Cost: 35.3.
Junctions 16 (M40)—19 (Watford)	Proposals published February 1994. Public exhibitions held and comments are now being considered.
	Cost: 71.3
Junctions 19 (Watford)—23 (A1)	Priority 2 scheme, programme to be reviewed.
	Cost: 86.5.
Junctions 23 (A1)—26 (A 121)	Details published February and comments are now being considered.
	Cost: £81.1.
Junctions 26 (A121)—28 (A12)	Priority 2 scheme, programme to be reviewed.
	Cost: £104.
Capacity beyond dual four lanes
Junctions 3 (M20)—10 (A3) and Junctions 21A (M1)—30 (A13)	Announced on 22 July 1993 that for foreseeable future there would be no widening beyond dual four lanes for these sections which make up some 70 per cent, of M25.
Junctions 10 (A3)—12 (M3)	Consultants appointed October 1992 to study options. Proposals may be published Autumn 1994
	Cost: £123.9.
Junctions 12 (M3)—15 (M4)	Draft highway orders published 7 April 1994. Already announced that public inquiry will have to be held, probably towards the end of this year.
	Cost: £164.3.
Junctions 15 (M4)—16 (M40)	Decision to proceed to order publication state with proposals for 2 lane link roads announced on 30 March.
	Cost: £66.2.
Junctions 16 (M40)—21A (M1)	No work on feasibility of providing capacity beyond D4 will be undertaken for many years.
Junction Improvement
Junctions 30 (A13)—31(A1306)	Consultants appointed 1 January 1994.
	Cost: £43–5.

560W between junctions 15–16 (M40), have an estimated total cost of some £231 million. The timetable for construction of these schemes would depend on the time needed to complete the statutory procedures and the availability of funds. Widening beyond dual four lanes is also under consideration for the length between junctions 10 (A3) and 12 (M3) but the form of any scheme, and hence its cost, is not yet known.