§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what status the roundabout to be built at Cophall as part of the A27 Polegate bypass will have; if the Order as made assumed that the A27 Folkington Link extension westwards would be built; and if he will make a statement. [133807]
§ Mr. HillCophall roundabout is being built as part of the A27 Polegate bypass on which construction commenced earlier this month. It is being constructed by virtue of a Side Roads Order under section 14 of the Highways Act 1980. During this phase the roundabout will be subject to a Trunking Order which, if made, would make maintenance the responsibility of the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions.
The Line Order for the scheme allowed for a westward extension of the new A27, the Folkington Link. The bypass scheme was designed to allow for grade separation and for the A27 to continue underneath the junction.
Proposals to extend the A27 westwards from Cophall roundabout were excluded from the Targeted Programme of Improvements announced in 1998 and are now being considered as part of the Southampton to Folkestone multi-modal study, which commenced in July this year. In view of this the roundabout design has been amended to remove the bridges which would have carried the roundabout over the extension. The roundabout will also be lowered by 1–2 metres on its south eastern side and the adjacent screening enhanced to lessen further the impact on nearby housing. Notwithstanding the layout changes made, the new design does not preclude a westward extension being built at a later date, should such a decision be made in the light of the outcome of the multi-modal study.