HC Deb 11 December 2001 vol 376 cc790-2W
John Mann

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans his Department has to upgrade the A1. [21605]

Mr. Jamieson

I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Tim Matthews, to write to my hon. Friend.

Letter from David York to John Mann, dated 11 December 2001: The Transport Minister, David Jamieson, asked Tim Matthews to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about the Al. I am replying in Tim's absence on official business. Current policy is to target improvement schemes at particular problem areas, rather than have a large programme of schemes which are unlikely to be financed within a reasonable timescale. For the A1, this means a series of improvement schemes at specific locations aimed at increasing safety and tackling congestion. The lengths between Ferrybridge and Hook Moor, in South and West Yorkshire and Wetherby and Walshford, in North Yorkshire are due to be upgraded to motorway standard as part of a Design, Build, Finance and Operate contract which is currently at tender stage. In the East Midlands, the Highways Agency has identified, as part of its Ten Year Plan, a number of major improvements to existing junctions on the Al between Peterborough and Blyth, in Nottinghamshire. These include the replacement of roundabouts with flyover junctions at Carpenter's Lodge near Stamford, Colsterworth, Gonerby Moor near Grantham, Markham Moor (junction with A57), Apleyhead (A57/A614 junction) and Blyth. This project is at an early stage, having only recently entered the Government's Targeted Programme of Improvements for trunk roads and it is too early to give a detailed timetable. However, public consultation on options for providing a two level junction at the existing Blyth roundabout is expected to start in the spring of next year, with consultation on options for the other five roundabouts starting later in the summer. Progress thereafter will depend on how quickly the proposals can be taken through the necessary statutory procedures, which involve the publication of Orders and the opportunity for objection. Subject to that, construction of a new junction at Blyth could begin in 2004/05, with the other improvements phased to minimise traffic disruption. In addition, three other initiatives have implications for the A1. The length between London and the South Midlands is included as part of a wider ranging "multi modal" study which is examining all transport needs within that corridor. The section between Peterborough and Blyth has been selected for a new approach to the future management of trunk routes. Consultants are preparing a 10 year Route Management Strategy for this length which will look at all aspects of its operation, including junctions, laybys, accesses and cross-over gaps. Further assessment work is being undertaken as a result of a safety study on the section between Bramham, West Yorkshire, and Barton, North Yorkshire. We shall be writing to you again in more detail as part of the consultation process for the Peterborough to Blyth roundabout scheme but if you would like further information, please contact the Project Sponsor for the scheme, Neil Owen, at the Agency's Birmingham office. He can be contacted at Broadway, Broad Street, Birmingham, B15 1BL or by telephone on 0121 678 8223.

John Mann

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what further plans he has to improve the Al motorway. [21758]

Mr. Jamieson

I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Tim Matthews, to write to my hon. Friend.

Letter from David York to John Mann, dated 11 December 2001 The Transport Minister, David Jamieson, asked Tim Matthews to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about the A1. I am replying in Tim's absence on official business. Current policy is to target improvement schemes at particular problem areas, rather than have a large programme of schemes which are unlikely to be financed within a reasonable timescale. For the A1, this means a series of improvement schemes at specific locations aimed at increasing safety and tackling congestion. The lengths between Ferrybridge and Hook Moor, in South and West Yorkshire and Wetherby and Walshford, in North Yorkshire are due to be upgraded to motorway standard as part of a Design, Build, Finance and Operate contract which is currently at tender stage. In the East Midlands, the Highways Agency has identified, as part of its Ten Year Plan, a number of major improvements to existing junctions on the Al between Peterborough and Blyth, in Nottinghamshire. These include the replacement of roundabouts with flyover junctions at Carpenter's Lodge near Stamford, Colsterworth, Gonerby Moor near Grantham, Markham Moor (junction with A57), Apleyhead (A57/A614 junction) and Blyth. This project is at an early stage, having only recently entered the Government's Targeted Programme of Improvements for trunk roads and it is too early to give a detailed timetable. However, public consultation on options for providing a two level junction at the existing Blyth roundabout is expected to start in the spring of next year, with consultation on options for the other five roundabouts starting later in the summer. Progress therefore will depend on how quickly the proposals can be taken through the necessary statutory procedures, which involve the publication of Orders and the opportunity for objection. Subject to that, construction of a new junction at Blyth could begin in 2004/05, with the other improvements phased to minimise traffic disruption. In addition, three other initiatives have implications for the A1. The length between London and the South Midlands is included as part of a wider ranging "multi modal" study which is examining all transport needs within that corridor. The section between Peterborough and Blyth has been selected for a new approach to the future management of trunk routes. Consultants are preparing a 10 year Route Management Strategy for this length which will look at all aspects of its operation, including junctions, laybys, accesses and cross-over gaps. Further assessment work is being undertaken as a result of a safety study on the section between Bramham, West Yorkshire, and Barton, North Yorkshire. We shall be writing to you again in more detail as part of the consultation process for the Peterborough to Blyth roundabout scheme but if you would like further information, please contact the Project Sponsor for the scheme, Neil Owen, at the Agency's Birmingham office. He can be contacted at Broadway, Broad Street, Birmingham, B15 1BL or by telephone on 0121 678 8223.