§ Sir Anthony GrantTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what study his Department has made into the rival merits of steel and concrete as barriers in motorways; and if he will make a statement. [28295]
§ Mr. WattsThis is an operational matter for the Highways Agency. I have asked its chief executive to write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Sir Anthony Grant, dated 15 June 1995:
As you know, the Minister for Railways and Roads, Mr. John Watts, has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question, asking the Secretary of State for Transport what study his Department has made into the rival merits of steel and concrete as barriers on motorways.618WAll steel safety fences and concrete safety barriers deployed on our network fully meet the performance requirements for vehicle restraints which are set down in the Manual for Contract Documents for Highway Works (MCHW). The criteria for their use are contained in Departmental Standards TD 19/85 and TD 32/93.A suitable design for concrete barriers which meets the performance requirements for high-speed motorways and trunk roads was not developed until 1989. There has not yet been sufficient length laid nor has sufficient time elapsed to enable a comprehensive appraisal to be made of their performance in service compared with steel. However, more concrete barriers are planned to be installed and we will continue to monitor their performance in service.