§ Helen JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment his Department has made of the effect on Warrington's economic development of(a) building and (b) not building a new Junction 8 on the M62. [40897]
§ Ms Glenda Jackson[holding answer 7 May 1998]This scheme is being considered as part of the Government's strategic Roads Review. The economic impact of the scheme is being assessed as part of the new appraisal technique that has been developed as part of that Roads Review.
§ Helen JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what estimate he has made of the level of traffic-related pollutants on the A49 in Warrington over the next five years(a) if a new Junction 8 is built on the M62 and (b) if no new junction is constructed; [40896]
63W(2) what estimate he has made of traffic flows on the A49 in Warrington over the next five years (a) if a new Junction 8 is built on the M62 and (b) if no new junction is constructed. [40898]
§ Ms Glenda Jackson[holding answer 7 May 1998]I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. Lawrie Haynes, to write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Helen Jones, dated 12 May 1998:
The Transport Minister, Glenda Jackson has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about the effects of the proposed new Junction 8 on the M62 on the traffic flows and related pollutants on the A49 in Warrington. The proposal for a new junction is linked with that to widen the M62 between Junctions 8 to 9 and all the information given in this reply assumes that the full scheme is implemented.We have carried out air quality assessments at two locations adjacent to the A49 in Warrington: Winwick Link junction, north of M62, and Forton Leisure Centre, south of the motorway.At the northern location, traffic related pollutant concentrations are currently well within air quality standards and will remain so by the year 2003, with or without the construction of M62 New Junction 8.Concentrations of particulates south of the motorway are within air quality standards but, because of the large volume of traffic on the A49, standards for carbon monoxide, benzene and oxides of nitrogen are already exceeded. However, by the year 2003, tighter emission controls which have already been introduced on new vehicles are expected to bring about an improvement, and traffic relief from the introduction of the new junction would mean that levels of all pollutants would be significantly lower than would otherwise be the case. Oxides of nitrogen are, however, still expected to exceed current standards with or without scheme.Taking the busiest peak hour, and assuming high growth in order to present a worst case, the estimated traffic flows on the A49 in Warrington are:On the A49 at Winwick Link, north of M62 Junction 9:2381 vehicles/hour in 1998
- (a) 2436 vehicles/hour in 2003 if Junction 8 is built
- (b) 2534 vehicles/hour in 2003 if Junction 8 is not built
On the A49 Winwick Road, south of M62 Junction 9:4645 vehicles/hour in 1998
- (a) 3785 vehicles/hour in 2003 if Junction 8 is built
- (b) 4793 vehicles/hour in 2003 if Junction 8 is not built
In the light of recent traffic surveys we are reviewing these forecasts for the forthcoming Public Inquiry into the Junction 8 proposals but we do not expect the level of traffic relief offered by the new junction to change significantly.