§ Mr. JenkinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the(a) trunk roads that are carried by a bridge, or which pass through a tunnel, of at least 600 m in length and (b) the dates on which such bridges and tunnels are set to be renewed. [113114]
§ Mr. HillIn England there are 33 bridges and three tunnels with a length greater than 600 m, carrying 21 different trunk roads. This figure excludes trunk roads transferring to the Greater London Authority in July 2000 as these will be de-trunked.
All these structures have long residual lives and there are no plans for their renewal in the foreseeable future. There is an ongoing programme of works to ensure all structures remain safe and serviceable.
The Secretary of State has made it clear that, in the context of the Transport Bill, he does not have any plans to charge on existing structures that are not already tolled.
I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. Peter Nutt, to write to the hon. Member with a list and place a copy in the Library.
Letter from Peter Nutt to Mr. Bernard Jenkin, dated 6 March 2000:
The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Keith Hill, has asked me to write in response to your written PQ about trunk road structures of at least 600m in length.I attach a list of those structures. Please contact Gerry Hayter in our Structures Section (telephone 0171 921 4789) if you require any further information on this subject.The table below lists English trunk road bridges over 600m in length1.460W
Road/Chainage Bridge name Comments A10/35.60 Kings Meads Viaduct — A14/193.80 Orwell Bridge — A19/131.50 Tees Viaduct — A38/52.60A Marsh Mills Viaduct E/B — A38/52.60B Marsh Mills Viaduct W/B — A38(M)/387.2 Aston Expressway EB — A39/182.40 River Torridge — A631/0.30 Tinsley Viaduct, Lower 2— M1/260.1 Tinsley Viaduct, Upper 2— M2/47.00 Medway Bridge — M4/12.70–15.60 Elevated Section — M5/0.00 Rayhall Bents SB3 — M5/1.00–1.60 Wigmore Bents3 — M5/5.60–7.90 Oldbury Bents3 — M5/142.40 Avonmouth Bridge — M5/194.10 Huntworth Viaduct — M5/258.60 Exe Viaduct — M6/178.4–182.8 Bromford Bents3 — M6/183.0–183.9 Gravelly Hill Bents3 — M6/187.2–188.0 Thornbridge Bents3 — M6/192.6–193.4 Rayhall Bents3 — M6/194.8–196.1 Bescott Bents3 — M6/300.90A Thelwall Viaduct (1963) — M6/300.90B Thelwall New Viaduct (1995) — M32/2.60 Eastville Viaduct — M50/5.40 Queenshill Viaduct — M53/8.40 Bidston Moss Viaduct (West) — M56/43.50 Weaver Viaduct — M62/161.60 Ouse Bridge — M63/2.20 Barton High Level Renamed M60 1 Length is the cumulative span length taken from the Highways Agency's National Structures Database (NATS) rounded to the nearest metre. 2 The A63 Tinsley Viaduct and M1 Tinsley viaduct is a 'double-decker' structure carrying two trunk roads.
3 Elevated Road
Note:
Bridges due to be transferred to the Greater London Authority in July 2000 have been excluded.
The table below lists English trunk road bridges over 600m in length1 not operated by the Highways Agency.
Road/Chainage Bridge name Comments M4 Second Severn Crossing Tolled M48 Severn Bridge Tolled A2822 Queen Elizabeth II (Dartford) Tolled 1 Length is not taken from NATS 2 The M25 is not continuous and the sections crossing the Thames at Dartford are correctly called the A282. Note:
M48 is due to be renamed as part of the M4
The table below lists English trunk road tunnels over 600m in length.
Road/Chainage Tunnel name Comments A2821 Dartford Tunnel Twin bore tunnel M25 Holmesdale Tunnel — A1(M) Hatfield Tunnel — 1 The M25 is not continuous and the sections crossing the Thames at Dartford are correctly called the A282