HC Deb 22 July 1996 vol 282 c17W
Mr. Donohoe

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about the management of the A69 by Road Link Ltd. [38635]

Mr. Watts

I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Brian Donohoe, dated 22 July 1996:

As you know, the Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking for a statement about the management of the A69 by Road Link (A69) Limited.

The A69 contract is the first to be awarded as a Design Build Finance and Operate (DBFO) scheme. This particular contract was won by Road Link (A69) Limited who are now responsible for the detailed design of the Haltwhistle Bypass scheme and its subsequent construction, together with the day to day operation and maintenance of the A69 between Carlisle and Newcastle. The concession period will last for 30 years during which Road Link will be reimbursed through "shadow tolls" paid by the Highways Agency. The Secretary of State for Transport, however, remains the highway authority for the A69 trunk road and this function cannot be delegated to the DBFO Co.

Road Link are employing the A69 Construction Joint Venture (a consortium of Morrison Construction, Christiani & Neilson Ltd, Henry Boot Construction and lmpregilo S.p.A, with design support from Pell Frischmann Consultants) to construct the A69 Haltwhistle Bypass.

The construction of the Bypass is currently making good progress and should be completed as programmed in August 1997. After that, there will be some minor works on the old trunk road once the new Bypass is opened to traffic.