§ Mr. Simon CoombsTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on his plans to upgrade the A417/A419 link between Swindon and Gloucester.
§ Mr. WattsThis is an operational matter for the Highways Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Simon Coombs, dated 22 November 1994:
I am writing in response to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Transport about the A417/A419 trunk road between Swindon and Gloucester. This is a matter for which the Highways Agency is responsible.The A419/417 Swindon to Gloucester road has been named as one of the first four projects to be designed, built, financed and operated (DBFO) by the private sector. This will include the management of the road and the construction of the Latton Bypass, the Cirencester and Stratton Bypass and the north of Stratton to Nettleton Improvement. The Secretary of State announced on 9 November the names of the consortia who are to be invited to bid for the contract.On the same route there are three national trunk road schemes which will not initially form part of the DBFO contract: the Blunsdon Bypass, for which the Secretary of State is currently considering the response to public consultation and the next stage will be announcement of the preferred route: the Nettleton to Crickley Hill Improvement—our first task will be to appoint a 130W design agent to identify possible routes for an improved road: and Brockworth Bypass, which is under construction and should be completed in autumn 1995. The future progress of the Blunsdon Bypass and Nettleton to Crickley Hill schemes depends no the satisfactory completion of the statutory planning procedures and the continuing availability of funds. If and when these other schemes are completed, the relevant sections of the A419/417 trunk road could be added to the DBFO contract for operational and maintenance purposes.