§ Mr. JenkinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when work will begin on the(a) A2/A282 Dartford Improvement, (b) A2 Bean to Tolgate widening, (c) Tolgate to Cobham widening and (d) M60, junctions 5 to 8 widening. [113104]
§ Mr. HillThe A2 Bean to Tolgate Widening, A2 Tolgate to Cobham Widening and A2/A282 Dartford456W Improvement schemes have yet to complete their statutory procedures. The start of works dates will therefore depend on the satisfactory completion of these procedures.
We currently plan to award the construction contract for the M60 Junction 5 to 8 Widening in 2003–04. The precise timing of the start of work will be a matter for the contractor.
§ Mr. JenkinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what factors underlay the decision not to include(a) the widening of the M25 between junctions 12 and 15, (b) the Al(M) Wetherby to Walshford road scheme, (c) the A46 Newark to Lincoln improvement and (d) the A63 Selby bypass in the list of road schemes planned to start in 2001–02. [113100]
§ Mr. HillOwing to the time needed to complete the necessary contract procedures, construction of the M25 Junctions 12 and 15 Widening scheme could not take place any earlier than 2002–03.
The A1(M) Wetherby to Walshford road scheme is to be constructed as part of a Design, Build, Finance and Operate (DBFO) contract. The amount of work needed to prepare the contract documents and undertake the subsequent procurement process means that the contract cannot be awarded before 2002–03.
The contracts for the A46 Newark to Lincoln Improvement scheme and the A63 Selby Bypass are programmed to be awarded in the financial year 2001–02.
§ Mr. JenkinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what impact the road schemes announced in the recent local transport settlement will have on the Government's objective of reducing traffic growth; and if he will make a statement. [113098]
§ Mr. HillIn order to tackle congestion and pollution, the Government want to see a reduction in road traffic growth, and an absolute reduction in road traffic where its damage is greatest. The schemes will, on their own, have a very small impact on total traffic growth. However, the local bypasses will help relieve communities of inappropriate traffic and all of the schemes form part of wider local strategies to improve choice and provide better alternatives to the car, thereby reducing traffic growth.
§ Mr. JenkinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the start dates and completion dates of the 37 schemes on the Government's list of targeted trunk road and motorway improvements. [113117]
§ Mr. HillOf the 37 schemes in the Targeted Programme of Improvements, 26 have completed their statutory procedures. I have listed the financial years in which we currently plan to award construction contracts for these schemes.
Because Design and Build contracts will be used, the precise timing of the start of works will be a matter for the contractor. The construction periods will depend on individual contracts.
The start dates for the other 11 schemes will depend on the outcome of the remaining statutory procedures. 457W
Scheme 2000–01 A1 Willowburn-Debwick A6 Great Glen Bypass A27 Polegate Bypass A41 Aston Clinton Bypass A43 Silverstone Bypass A43 Whitfield Turn-Brackley Hatch Impovement A1033 Hedon Road, Hull Improvement A6 Clapham Bypass A11 Roudham Health to Attleborough A43 M40-B4031 Improvement A66 Stainburn and Great Clifton Bypass A500 Bassford/Hough/Shavington Bypass A650 Bingley Relief Road 2001–02 A5 Nessclife Bypass A6 Rothwell-Desborough Bypass A6 Rushden and Hingham Ferrers Bypass A10 Wadesmill-Colliers End Bypass A21 Lamberhurst Bypass A23 Coulsdon Relief Road A46 Newark-Lincoln Improvement A63 Selby Bypass A120 Stansted-Braintree 2002–03 M25 J 12–15 Widening 2003–04 M60 J 5–8 Widening We propose to take forward A1(M) Ferrybridge to Hook Moor and A1(M) Wetherby to Walshford under Design, Build, Finance and Operate (DBFO) contracts, which we currently expect to award in 2002–03.
§ Mr. JenkinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when work will begin on the(a) A249 Iwade-Queenborough Improvement, (b) A1(M) Wetherby to Walshford road scheme, (c) A1(M) Ferrybridge to Hook Moor road scheme, (d) M25, junction 12 to junction 15 widening, (e) A23 Coulsdon relief road scheme and (f) A21 Lamberhurst bypass. [113105]
§ Mr. HillThe A249 Iwade-Queenborough went to Public Inquiry last September and the start of works date will depend on the outcome of the statutory procedures.
We propose to take forward A1(M) Wetherby to Walshford and the A1(M) Ferrybridge to Hook Moor schemes under Design, Build, Finance and Operate (DBFO) contracts which we currently expect to award in 2002–03.
We currently plan to award construction contracts for both the A23 Coulsdon Inner Relief Road and A21 Lamberhurst Bypass in 2001–02. The precise timing of the start of works will depend on the Contractor.
The M25 J12–15 Widening scheme is due to start in 2002–03. The precise date will depend on the outcome of the necessary procurement processes.
§ Mr. JenkinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what factors underlay the decision not to include(a) the M60, junctions 5 to 8 widening and (b) the A1 Ferrybridge to Hook Moor road scheme in the list of road schemes planned to start in 2001–02. [113099]
458W
§ Mr. HillConstruction of the M60 Junction 5–8 widening could not be finished in time to avoid affecting the transport arrangements for the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester. It was therefore agreed that the start construction would be delayed until the Games had finished. Construction will start in 2003–04.
The A1 Ferrybridge to Hook Moor road scheme is to be constructed as part of a Design, Build, Finance and Operate (DBFO) contract. The amount of work needed to prepare the contract documents and undertake the subsequent procurement process means that the contract cannot be awarded before 2002–03.
§ Mr. JenkinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what consultations his Department carried out before the approval of the trunk road schemes planned to start in 2000–01. [113101]
§ Mr. HillShortly after elected the Government undertook a year-long strategic review of the roads programme in fulfillment of our manifesto promise. This review, unlike previous roads reviews, included extensive consultation at regional and national level. Around 14,000 responses were received to the consultation document. The results of the Review were announced on 31 July 1998.