§ Lord Joplingasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are satisfied with the state of the road surface between junctions 4 and 5 of the M.1 motorway, and if not, what penalties have been imposed on the contractors responsible and what proposals they have to improve the situation. [HL3419]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (Lord Whitty)As this is an operational matter, I have asked Lawrie Haynes, the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, to write to the noble Lord.
Letter to Lord Jopling from the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. L. Haynes, dated 22 October 1998.
Lord Whitty has asked me to write to you about the state of the road surface between Junctions 4 and 5 of the M.1 Motorway.
180WAThis length of the motorway was opened to traffic in 1967 and was last resurfaced in 1988. It carries large volumes of traffic and has performed well so there is no case for imposing penalties on the contractor who carried out the work.
As is to be expected, the surface has started to deteriorate and we have commenced investigations as to what will be the appropriate form of treatment when the need to intervene arises. We aim to complete the investigations next year with a view to carrying out major works in about two years, depending on the needs of this length of road and national priorities.
I can assure you that the road surface is safe to use, its condition is regularly monitored and, should the need arise, then the agency will intervene at an earlier date than I have suggested.
Nick Atkinson, our Area Manager for North London, would be pleased to discuss the matter further with you. His telephone number is 0171 921 4042.