Roads Review (Hansard, 10 December 1998)

§ Ms Glenda Jackson

My noble Friend the Minister for Roads and Road Safety announced today that we are able to provide further details of the construction programme for the schemes included in our Targeted Programme of Improvements listed inA New Deal for Trunk Roads in England.

As previously stated by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport, on 31 July 1998, Official Report, columns 653–75, all the schemes listed in the TPI will definitely start within the next seven years, subject only to the completion of any outstanding statutory procedures.

For those schemes where all the statutory procedures have been completed, the following are the planned start of works dates. Final confirmation of individual start dates within each year will be subject to the satisfactory completion of the necessary contract process.

252W

2000–01

Al: Willowburn—Denwick
A6: Great Glen Bypass
A27: Polegate Bypass
A41: Aston Clinton Bypass
A43: Silverstone Bypass
A43: Whitfield Turn—Brackley Hatch Improvement
A1033: Hedon Road, Hull Improvement

2001–02

A5: Nesscliffe Bypass
A6: Clapham Bypass
A6: Rothwell—Desborough Bypass
A6: Rushden and Higham Ferrers Bypass
A10: Wadesmill-Colliers End Bypass
A1l: Roudham Heath to Attleborough
A21: Lamberhurst Bypass
A23: Coulsdon Relief Road
A43: M40-B4031 Improvement
A46: Newark-Lincoln Improvement
A63: Selby Bypass
A66: Stainburn and Great Clifton Bypass
Al20: Stansted-Braintree
A500: Basford/Hough/Shavington Bypass
A650: Bingley Relief Road

2002–03

M25: J 12–15 Widening

2003–04

M60: J 5–8 (formerly M63 J 6–9 Widening).

We propose to take forward the following five schemes under Design, Build, Finance and Operate (DBFO) contracts. These provide bidders with the flexibility to decide their own start dates as a means of producing better value for money. In line with our new objectives for Trunk Roads the proposed payment mechanisms for these schemes will incentivise efficient road operation and will include rewarding improved safety and good service to buses and lorries. We will further keep under review the scope for additional public private partnerships to implement the TPI.

The DBFO Schemes are:

Contract Award Date

2002–03

A1(M): Ferrybridge to Hook Moor
Al(M): Wetherby to Walshford.

The following three schemes, which we propose taking forward under DBFO contracts, are still subject to statutory procedures. The next statutory procedures for these schemes, together with the planned dates, are:

1999–2000

A249: Iwade-Queenborough Improvement (Public Inquiry)

2000–01

A2: Bean-Cobham Widening Phase 2 (Public Consultation)
A2: A2/A282 Dartford Improvement (Order Publication).

I am not yet in a position to announce the final start of works dates for the remaining schemes listed in the TPI. I am however able to announce the next statutory procedure for the remaining schemes where applicable.

253W

1998–99

A303: Stonehenge (Public Consultation)

1999–2000

A6: Alvaston (Order Publication)
A34: Chieveley/M4 J 13 Improvement (Order Publication—revised CPO)

2000–01

A2: Bean-Cobham Widening Phase 1 (Public Consultation)
A500: City Road/Stoke Road Junctions (Order Publication)

2001–02

A5: Weeford-Fazeley Improvement (Order Publication)
A14: Rookery Crossroads Grade Separated Junction (Order Publication)
A421: Great Barford Bypass (Order Publication).

At the same time as the TPI was published, a further seven schemes were listed which were not sufficiently advanced to be considered for the TPI but which are to be progressed through their statutory procedures and, if endorsed as a result of the Regional Planning Guidance procedure process, will be taken forward without delay, subject only to the availability of funds. They are, with dates of the next statutory procedure:

1999–2000

A30: Bodmin-Indian Queens Improvement (Public Consultation)

2000–01

A11: Attleborough Bypass (Public Consultation)
A11: Fiveways-Thetford Improvement (Public Consultation)
A63: Melton Grade Separated Junction (Order Publication)

2001–02

A45/A46: Tollbar End Improvement (Public Consultation)
A57/A628: Mottram-Tintwistle Bypass (Order Publication)
A66: Temple Sowerby Bypass and Improvement at Winderwath (Order Publication).

In A New Deal for Trunk Roads in England we also proposed a programme of studies to address the most urgent problems on the Trunk Road Network not addressed by schemes in the TPI. My Department is today beginning a consultation exercise with Regional Planning Bodies to agree the study programme and to seek views in particular on the timing of the studies. The provisional programme of studies is as follows: Tranche one multi-modal studies: West Midlands to North West Conurbation; London Orbital; South West Yorkshire Motorway box; Tyneside; West Midlands Area; Access to Hastings; London to South West and South Wales; North-South Movements in East Midlands; and South East Manchester. Work to begin in spring 1999. Tranche two multi-modal studies: Cambridge to Huntingdon, A453 (MI-Nottingham); Southampton to Folkestone; Hull; London to South Midlands; West Midlands to Nottingham; London to Reading. The start date for these studies will depend on the progress of tranche one studies in each region. Roads-based studies: Al Bramham to Barton; Norwich to Great Yarmouth; A5 Shrewsbury to Welsh Border; A38 Derby Junctions; M1 Junction 19; A3 Hindhead; Deeside Park Junctions; M40/A46 Longbridge roundabout; A419 Blunsdon; A66 Safety study. We intend to begin these within the next two years.

A copy of the consultation document will be placed in the Library.