asked the Minister of Transport if he will list in the Official Report those motorways presently under repair; for what reasons they are under repair; and what is the estimated cost of repair.
A list of major repair works presently in hand on motorways is attached. In addition, emergency works may be required at any time to deal with damaged safety barriers, earth slips or drain blockages.During the Easter weekend as much carriageway as possible will be restored for use by holiday traffic.
Motorway
| Location
| Nature of repair
| Estimated cost £m.
|
| M1 | North of Luton, Bedfordshire | Reconstruction of hard shoulder | 1·0 |
| M1 | South of Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire | Reconstruction of hard shoulder | 0·2 |
| M1 | Between junctions 16 and 17, Northampton | Replacement of central safety barrier | 0·3 |
| M1 | Between junctions 29 and 30, south of Derby | Repairs to central safety barrier | 0·15 |
| M1 | Tinsley Viaduct, south Yorkshire | Bridge strengthening and rust preventive painting | 1·1 |
| M4 | Elevated steel section between junctions 2 and 3 Hounslow | Renewal of viaduct welding | 0·4 |
| M4 | Severn Bridge, Avon | Replacement of suspension cables and strengthening of carriage way | 0·8 |
| M5 | Avon Bridge, Bristol | Bridgeworks and strengthening of carriageway | 0·3 |
| M5 | Between junctions 25 and 26, Taunton, Somerset | Reconstruction of sub-base of carriageway | 2·0 |
| M5 | Between junctions 7 and 8, south of Worcester | Reconstruction of carriageway (continuation from 1979) | 2·9 |
| M6 | Between junctions 21 and 21A, Warrington, Cheshire | Strengthening overlay of carriageway surface | 3·3 |
| M50 | Kempley Bridge between junctions 2 and 3, Hereford and Worcester. | Bridgeworks following accident damage | 0·3 |
asked the Minister of Transport if he is satisfied with existing regulations for the building and maintenance of the motorway network in the United Kingdom.
I am satisfied that existing regulations for the construction and maintenance of motorways strike a reasonable balance between safety, costs and getting work done quickly.