§ Baroness Scott of Needham Marketasked Her Majesty's Government:
When they will be able to give a firm date for the replacement of the concrete road surface of the Al4 in Suffolk. [HL2681]
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonThe concrete road sections of the Al4 in Suffolk were constructed in the 70s and early 80s. The concrete surface will be replaced as part of the Government's 10 year plan. The existing surface is in good condition, and the timing of that work will be determined in the light of the criteria announced by the Government in October 2001.
Those criteria are: that wherever possible the application of quieter surfaces will fit in with normal maintenance needs; that priority will be given to those sites where treatment would benefit the greatest number of people; that the work will be carried out in such a way as to minimise disruption to the general public and users of the network; and that priority will be given to roads, opened since June 1988, where actual noise levels have turned out to be significantly higher than predicted at the time of the public inquiry.