HC Deb 02 July 2002 vol 388 cc219-21W
Mr. Don Foster

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what schemes for road widening under the 10-year plan have been(a) proposed, (b) accepted and (c) started; what the location and length of road is in each case; what research has been conducted into the effects on (i) traffic, (ii) safety, (iii) congestion, (iv) social and environmental impacts and (v) economic effects in each case; and if he will make a statement. [663101

Mr. Jamieson

There are currently 15 on-line widening schemes in our targeted programme of improvements (TPI). As with all such schemes a substantial amount of assessment work is undertaken which looks at the current situation and the impact of the proposals. This is published during the statutory procedures and may be debated at a public inquiry, if one is necessary, and then by the Secretary of State when deciding whether to authorise the making of the necessary orders.

The following such schemes are under construction:

  • AI Willowburn to Denwick Improvement (Northumberland4.2km)
  • A 11 Roudham Heath to Attleborough Dualling (Norfolk-9.9km)
  • A43 M40 to B4031 Dualling (Oxfordshire-6.5km)
  • A46 Newark to Lincoln Improvement (Lincolnshire-28km).

Office to the promoter of every scheme to the extent requested, by telephone, email or post.

Construction on the following will start in the next financial year:

  • M25 J12–15 Widening (Surrey–10.9km)
  • M60 J5–8 (Greater Manchester–7.4km).

And statutory procedures have still to be completed on the following schemes:

  • A74(M) Carlisle to Guardsmill upgrading to motorway (Cumbria–9km)
  • AI Bramham to Wetherby (N. Yorkshire–9km)
  • Al Dishforth to Leeming (N. Yorkshire–22km)
  • Al Leeming to Barton (N. Yorkshire—l6km)
  • A2 Bean to Cobham Widening Phase 1 (Kent–4.lkm)
  • A2 Bean to Cobham Widening Phase 2 (Kent–6.5km)
  • A11 Fiveways to Thetford Improvement (Suffolk–14.9km)
  • A11 Attleborough Bypass Improvement (Norfolk–5.5km)
  • A46 Newark to Widmerpool Improvement (Nottinghamshire28km).

Other widening schemes have been proposed as possible solutions to transport problems being investigated under the programme of multi-modal (MMS) and road based studies. So far the only widening scheme which the Secretary of State has accepted coming out of an MMS is the proposal to widen the Al4 between Cambridge and Huntingdon and the Cambridge Northern Bypass. The Highways Agency are now undertaking more detailed work on the scheme design than was possible during the study with a view to it being added to the TPI in the near future. Again substantial work will be undertaken on all the effects of the scheme during future statutory processes.

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