§ Lord Marlesfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the cost to public funds of the current resurfacing work being undertaken on the A.12 trunk road in the Little Glemham area; whether this is being undertaken in satisfactory weather conditions; and on what criteria it was decided that the work needed doing. [HL263]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (Lord Whitty)I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency to write to the noble Lord.
Letter to Lord Marlesford from Mr. John Kerman, Board Director of the Highways Agency, dated 15 December 1998.
The Minister for Roads and Road Safety has asked Lawrie Haynes, the Chief Executive, to reply to your recent parliamentary Question about the roadworks on the A.12 trunk road near Little Glemham in Suffolk. I am replying in Lawrie's absence from the office.
The Highways Agency has a remit to monitor the condition and safety of the trunk road network. In this case, we identified problems with "rutting" on the road surface and a reduction in its skid resistance, which has safety implications.
The winning tender cost for the resurfacing work is £192,000. The work began on 7 December and is expected to be completed by 15 December. It is part of a major resurfacing contract worth approximately £2 million covering 21 sites along the A.11, A.12 and A.14 in Suffolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire. The overall contract began on 14 November and is due to be completed this week to avoid the Christmas holiday period.
The resurfacing material can be successfully laid during the winter, but it is for the contractor to judge when it is appropriate to do so, within the terms of the contract. The contractor has guaranteed the work for a period of two years from completion.