A1 (Ferrybridge) (Hansard, 19 July 1995)

§ Mr. Watts

These are operational matters for the Highways Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. William O'Brien, dated 19 July 1995: As you know, the Minister for Railways and Roads, Mr. John Watts, has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Questions numbered 337, 339, 343, 352, 355 and 358 on the Order Paper circulated on 17 July. All six questions are about the current roadworks on the Al at Ferrybridge. You asked (question 343) about the agreed start and finish date for the works and (question 339) the agreed contract time. The start date was 20 June, the agreed finish date is 9 August and the contract duration is 51 days. You also asked (question 355) the average number of vehicles passing these roadworks. It is about 3,400 vehicles per hour during the day (ie 7am to 7pm) but the number varies outside that period. In question 337 you asked about the length of delay in contractors carrying out the work in meeting agreed timetables on slip-road closures. The length of time that slip roads were originally planned to be closed for these works was 144 slip road days at Botherton/Ferrybridge and 50 slip road days at Fairburn. Due to 1327W having to carry out additional work at the River Aire Bridge the slip road closures at Botherton/Ferrybridge will now total 167 slip road days, but at Fairburn will become 80 slip road days. The effect on the overall contract period has been minimised by re-phasing some of the roadworks to be carried out concurrently with the additional bridgeworks. You also asked (question 358) how many hours have been worked at (a) weekends and (b) during the night, on this scheme. The contractor has worked all weekends and a number of nights. On 15 days, the contractor intends to work the full 24 hours and on 32 days he will work for 16 hours. On some phases of the work night operations are not possible due to noise restrictions imposed by the local environment health officer to avoid causing nuisance to adjacent residential properties. In question 352 you asked about the arrangements for traffic management and alternative routes available for vehicles using the A1 during the roadworks. The A1 north of Ferrybridge is a two lane dual carriageway without hard shoulders. In order to carry out the works to the River Aire Bridge and undertake resurfacing safely it has been necessary to close one carriageway at a time and keep open one lane in each direction on the other carriageway. There are no easy alternative routes for drivers to use to avoid this section of A1. In order to minimise delays and give drivers the opportunity to plan their journeys to avoid this section of Al, altogether or during peak periods, widespread publicity has been given to this scheme in advance of work starting and will continue until it has finished. Signs were erected at the site of the works about three weeks before lane restrictions were imposed and advertisements were placed in local newspapers during the week before work started. Leaflets have been printed and distributed throughout the north of England. Two of these give general information on planned roadworks, on motorways and on the Al. An additional leaflet gives specific details of this scheme. Local and national radio stations give frequent up to date reports about the traffic conditions in the vicinity of works. I should perhaps add that we fully understand the inconvenience caused to road users by the need to carry out essential maintenance works such as this to keep the A1 in a safe and serviceable condition. Whilst we do as much as possible to publicise likely delays, plan traffic management in advance, and minimise the duration of the contract, we cannot avoid the need to restrict the use of the existing road in the interests of the safety of both the workforce and the travelling public.