Trunk Roads (Hansard, 15 June 1995)

§ Mr. Lang

We continue to make good progress towards the achievement of a safe, high quality trunk road network providing benefits to the whole of Scotland. The programme I am announcing today continues our strategy of upgrading the key routes of major economic importance to Scotland's future and the emphasis we have directed to upgrading the A74 to motorway, the completion of the central Scotland motorway and near-motorway network, and the upgrading of the A1.

The schemes with an estimated cost of more than £3 million each which, subject to schemes satisfying the usual value-for-money criteria, with satisfactory completion of statutory procedures and the necessary preparatory work, are expected to start between April 1995 and March 1998 are:

M6: Paddy's Rickle to Cleuchbrae
M8: Newhouse to Shotts
M8: Bailiston to Newhouse phase 1
A9: Logie Easter to Garrick Bridge
A830: Loch Nan Uamh to Polnish Bridge
A96: Kintore bypass
M8: Newbridge interchange
Al: Haddington to Dunbar
A830: Arisaig to Kinsadel
A68: Dalkeith bypass
M77: Fenwick to B764 (Floak)
M90: Halbeath interchange

This is an ambitious programme requiring substantial levels of investment. The schemes have a total cost of more than £330 million. The Government see an increasing role for private sector finance and management skills in the trunk road business and, accordingly, I have decided that the M6 Paddy's Rickle to Cleuchbrae project will be subject to a tender competition to identify a private consortium to design, build, finance and operate this scheme, which will include taking over the maintenance 680W responsibility for the entire length of upgraded road between Millbank and the Scottish border. That tender competition will start in the summer and it will be a major opportunity for the private sector to increase its involvement in the trunk road business. It shall ensure that the full upgrade of the motorway will be complete by 2000. I am exploring with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport how this strategy might also address the completion of the remaining section of the M6 south of the Scottish border.

My decision to invite the private sector to design, build, finance and operate the scheme is a significant example of how the attraction of private finance can complement public provision. We shall continue actively to explore the potential for further opportunities.

We shall also seek tenders for the first phase of the Baillieston-Newhouse project on the M8 to upgrade and widen the sole remaining non-motorway section of the Edinburgh to Glasgow route in line with long-standing commitments. The three successive phases of the scheme will be complete by 2002. The M8 is the principal link between Scotland's two major cities, and several areas of significant industrial and commercial importance are situated along it. The overall condition of this vital artery must be considered most carefully to ensure that it continues to be able to cater for the ever increasing demands made of it. We shall in the course of this year initiate a detailed study to examine a robust strategy for its refurbishment and upgrading. As a first step in this process, we shall shortly seek tenders for a major contract to reconstruct and upgrade the section between Shotts and Newhouse.

Our programme now includes the commitments I made in relation to the network around the firth of Forth in my announcement earlier this year on the "Setting Forth" proposals—the improvements to the junctions at M8 Newbridge and M90 Halbeath.

Our major construction activity is directed by our primary objective to upgrade Scotland's internal and external motorway links, which are vital to the continuing success of our economy. This is complemented by our continuing commitment to the improvement of the trunk road network elsewhere. During the next three years, I shall devote resources totalling well over £200 million to a range of improvements and continuing maintenance, which will improve the service offered to travellers and increase road safety. The interests of local communities near trunk roads are also being directly addressed in this programme. During the coming year, the work will see important local improvement schemes on the Al south of Dunbar, the A90 between Perth and Dundee and the A7 south of Hawick, all as part of route action plans carefully designed to put resources where they will secure the greatest benefit. The A76 Kilmarnock to Dumfries route and the A77 will also benefit from such improvements, including traffic calming measures and village gateways. We continue to develop schemes and measures to address urgent needs throughout the network including the A75 and the A96.

I wish also to report on the substantial progress we have made during 1994–95. Fifteen schemes—each with a cost of more than £3 million—were either completed or under way, representing a total investment in excess of £380 million. They include nine separate schemes contributing 681W to the upgrade of the A74. More than two thirds of the upgraded M74 will be open to traffic by the end of this year. Construction of the M8 extension between Newbridge and the Edinburgh city bypass scheme is also well advanced and should be open this year. Construction also continues on the privately financed Skye bridge, scheduled to open in the autumn, the M77 and the A1 Tranent to Haddington.

The schemes completed in 1994–95, and their costs, were as follows:

M74—Maryville to Fullarton road: £44 million
A830—Morar bypass: £9 million
M6—Cleuchbrae to Dinwoodie Green: £24 million
M6—Dinwoodie Green to Muirhouse: £19 million
M6—Muirhouse to Water of Milk: £39 million
M6—Water of Milk to Ecclefechan: £27 million
M6—Ecclefechan to Eaglesfield phase 1: £15 million

As I announced recently, we are also proceeding with the proposals set out in "Competing For Better Roads", which aim to improve the delivery of maintenance across the trunk road network, through the introduction of private sector management expertise, financial skills and innovative contractual methods.

Taken altogether, this package is very good news indeed for Scotland's road industry and for the users of Scotland's trunk roads.