§ Mr. BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects the M60 from(a) Denton to Hollinwood and (b) Hollinwood to Middleton to open. [90320]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonI have asked the Chief Executive Agency, Mr. Lawrie Haynes, to write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from Peter Nutt to Mr. Andrew F. Bennett, dated 8 July 1999:
The Transport Minister, Glenda Jackson, has asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Lawrie Haynes, to reply to your recent question about expected opening dates for the M60 Denton to Hollinwood and M60 Hollinwood to Middleton road contracts. I am replying in Lawrie's absence from the office.Contract 1: Denton to Medlock (Hollinwood in your question) was awarded in 1996 as a three year contract in the then traditional form in which much of the risk remains with the Highways Agency. Problems arose on this contract due largely to a lack of suitable clay material to construct a replacement dam. An extension to the contract period was granted to summer 2000. Suitable materials have now been identified and the contract is on course for completion in summer 2000.Contract 3: Medlock to Middleton was awarded as a 26 month design and build contract in April 1998, using the Agency's new procurement strategy. This contract has been selected as one of the demonstration projects under the Egan "Rethinking Contract" initiative. This is one of the 50 projects selected to demonstrate the commitment of government and industry to improve the industry's performance by identifying and delivering best practice. It remains on schedule for completion in summer 2000.