§ Mr. Peter RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the M2 motorway development in respect of(a) the land recently sold to Ronany Ltd. for private commercial development, (b) the funds expended on the land purchase, (c) the construction of engineering work required including, bridges, (d) the level of traffic in its traffic catchment area, (e) the extension of Londonderry, (f) its status as a Euro-route and claims for expansion within the European Union road transportation strategy and (g) the provision for the repurchase from Ronany Ltd. of the land now being disposed of to that company when the time comes for the construction of the additional traffic lanes. [10718]
§ Mr. MossThe information requested is as follows:
- (a) and (b) While the Department has not sold any land near the M2 motorway to Ronany Ltd., arrangements are being made to lease a portion of the motorway hard shoulder and verge to the company to facilitate the provision of a service area;
- (c) Responsibility for undertaking the necessary engineering works will rest with Ronany Ltd.—no bridges are proposed;
- (d) Traffic flows on the section of motorway in question are as follows:
- (i) northbound carriageway—approximately 14,000 vehicles per day, and
- (ii) southbound carriageway—approximately 15,600 vehicles per day;
- (e) There are no plans to extend the M2 motorway to Londonderry;
- (f) The Belfast?Londonderry route (M2/M22/A6) forms part of the European Union's trans-european network—TEN—adopted in 1993; and
- (g) While there are no proposals to widen this section of the M2 motorway, provision to cover an eventuality will he made in the arrangements finally agreed with the company.