§ The Earl of Sandwichasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are seeking economies in their roads programme: and if so, how they justify the use of more than three wooden rails in the fencing of motorways and dual carriageways. [HL1952]
Lord WhinyThe Highways Agency has the responsibility to deliver best value for money in providing and maintaining the English trunk road network, which includes most motorways. Targets are set to measure the Agency's performance and they are required to incorporate value for money assessments in undertaking their responsibilities.
When post and rail fencing is specified by the Highways Agency, four rails are considered necessary to prevent livestock straying onto the road. Both spacing between the rails and the overall height are important. The likely cost of having to provide stock proofing by other means would exceed the saving in reducing the number of rails.