§ Mr. SoleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what report he has received on the recent accident that took place on the Shepherds Bush overhead intersection with the Westway that resulted in a lorry shedding its load on to the travellers, site situated beneath the flyover; and what additional safety precautions he is proposing. [40935]
§ Mr. BowisI have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to the hon Member.
Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Clive Soley, dated 16 October 1996:
The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent question about an accident on the Shepherds Bush overhead intersection with the Westway.The accident involved a lorry carrying industrial rolls of paper. The vehicle struck the parapet on an elevated stretch of road. The parapet, which conforms to the Highways Agency's latest standards, successfully restrained the vehicle but unfortunately parts of the toad were shed and fell onto the ground below.It would not be realistic or cost effective to make provisions such that no vehicles or their loads ever left elevated structures after an accident, and so no specific extra precautions are planned in the light of this accident. The Highways Agency is nevertheless committed to delivering a safe trunk road network and if other measures are identified that might improve the safety of this road they will he carefully considered.