§ Mrs. MayTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the total length of HGV lanes is on the strategic network. [71337]
§ Mr. Jamieson[holding answer 19 July 2002]: There are no lanes in the Highways Agency's strategic road network dedicated solely to the movement of heavy goods vehicles.
§ Mrs. MayTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the roads providing drivers with instant access to network conditions; and what the total length of road is providing this information. [71334]
§ Mr. Jamieson/holding answer 19 July 2002]: Variable message signs are being installed on the busiest parts of the motorway network as part of a commitment to have automatic hold up warning systems operating on 30 per cent. of motorways (825km) in England by March 1254W 2005. As part of the Traffic Control Centre project, variable message signs are also being installed at strategic points on the English trunk road network to provide drivers with information about major incidents, including, where appropriate, advice on alternative routes. Some local authorities provide similar information on their own roads but those details are not held centrally.
§ Mr. RedwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of new(a) motorway and (b) trunk roads have been completed in the last two years; and how many are planned for the next two years; [72893]
§ Mr. Spellar9.4 miles of new motorway and 13.75 miles of new trunk road were completed in the last two years. 30 miles of new motorway and 66.1 miles of new trunk road are planned for completion in the next two years.
§ Mrs. MayTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what is the estimated number of people living within 600m of a trunk road; [71338]
(2) what length of strategic road network was widened in each of the last three years; [71321]
(3) what the average noise level is (a) 100m, (b) 300m and (c) 600m away from a trunk road in each of the last three years; [71339]
(4) what length of the trunk road network has been given lower-noise surfaces (a) since July 2000 and (b) in each of the last three years. [71335]
§ Mr. Jamieson[holding answer 19 July 2002]: I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Tim Matthews, to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Tim Matthews to Mrs. Theresa May dated 24 July 2002:
I have been asked by the Transport Minister to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about the estimated number of people living within 600m of a trunk road; the length of trunk road that has been given lower-noise surfaces; the average noise level at 100m, 300m and 600m away from a trunk road; and the length of strategic road network widened in each of the last three years.The Highways Agency estimates that there are over 2.1 million households located within 600m of the trunk road network. In the National Office of Statistics 'Living In Britain' publication (published 2000) the average number of people per household was 2.3. it is therefore estimated that approximately 4.83 million people live within 600 metres of the trunk road network.Since July 2000, 3,257 of the 34,000 trunk road lane kilometres have been laid with lower noise surfacing. Between April 2001 and March 2002 lower noise surfacing was laid on 1,611 lane kilometres and between April 2000 and March 2001 this figure was 1431 lane kilometres. Prior to April 2000 this information was not collated by the Agency.It is not possible to provide average noise levels at given distances from a trunk road because the noise level arising from any major road is determined by the characteristics of the traffic it carries, principally the amount of traffic and the percentage of heavy goods vehicles. The type of road surface and other noise mitigation measures will also affect the noise level. Provided that other factors remain the same, the effect of traffic growth year on year is minimal.A number of important widening schemes are currently under construction, but none have been completed in the last three years. The Ml to Al Lofthouse-Bramham Link Road DBFO was completed in May 1999 and this contained within it some stretches 1255W of widening of the A1, the MI and the M62 totalling 9.9km. These stretches were completed by February 1999, just prior to the three-year period in question.I hope this is helpful.