§ Phil SawfordTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) what provisions have been made to maintain access to public footpaths after the construction of the A6 Rothwell/Desborough bypass; [41966]
(2) what provisions have been made to reduce the noise impact of the A6 Rothwell/Desborough bypass. [41967]
§ Mr. JamiesonI have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. Tim Matthews, to write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from Tim Matthews to Phil Sawford, dated 13 March 2002:
I have been asked by the Transport Minister, David Jamieson to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about the A6 Rothwell/Desborough Bypass.The bypass affects five public footpaths. Two will continue on their present route with suitable crossings where they meet the bypass. Two will be subject to minor diversions with new crossing arrangements to provide safer crossing points. Stiles will be placed in any boundary fences at all of the crossing points. The other footpath will be diverted to cross the A14 at an existing road bridge. Access for footpath users will be maintained across the line of the by-pass during its construction.In line with the Government's commitment to using quieter road surfaces for all new roads, the new bypass will have a low-noise road surface.