HC Deb 16 November 2001 vol 374 cc912-3W
Mr. Burns

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) what plans his Department has for road works on the A12 between Hatfield Peverel and Mountnessing in the next 12 months; [14962]

(2) what action he will take to alleviate the traffic jams on the A12 north of Boreham at Hatfield Peverel while the road works are in progress; [14964]

(3) when the road works on the A12 to the north of Boreham at Hatfield Peverel will be completed; and when the A12 will return to normal traffic flows; [14963]

(4) if he will make a statement on the traffic jams being caused by road works on the Al21 north of Boreham at Hatfield Peverel; and what has been the average time it takes vehicles to travel through the road works in each week since their establishment. [14965]

Mr. Jamieson

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

Letter from Richard Thorndike to Mr. Simon Burns, dated 15 November 2001: Tim Matthews has been asked by the Transport Minister, David Jamieson, to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about planned and proposed roadworks on the A12. I am replying as Tim Matthews is currently away on business. I am sorry that the resurfacing of the A12 near Hatfield Peverel is causing problems for road users. We expect the work to be completed around the middle of February, although to minimise delays over Christmas, the traffic management will be suspended between noon on 19 December and noon on 7 January. We have not recorded details since work started of the delays for each week. Although we know there have been delays of over an hour particularly when there have been accidents. However, on average in the morning it takes about 10–15 minutes longer to travel southbound and about 5–10 minutes longer to travel north. We have no plans for major roadworks on the A12 between Hatfield Peverel and Mountnessing during the next 12 months. We are, however, planning to resurface part of the Brentwood Bypass next September which will involve some work at the Mountnessing Interchange. Details will be published nearer the time. If you would like more details, the Agency's Project Manager, James Hassall would be happy to discuss the scheme. His telephone number is 01234 796094