A358

Mr. Jeremy Browne
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent estimate he has made of the number of vehicles he expects the new dual carriageway on the A358 between the M5 and the A303 to carry each day (a) on average and (b) at peak times of the year.

Dr. Ladyman
The information is as follows:

(a) The estimate of traffic in the design year (2032) used for assessment purposes in the current option study on the new dual carriageway varies along the routes between 33,800 and 39,700 vehicles (low traffic growth forecast) and between 41,900 and 49,600 vehicles (high traffic growth forecast).

(b) These figures are daily two-way traffic flows averaged over the year; peak period flows have not been modelled for the current stage of development.

Mr. Jeremy Browne
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the (a) timetable and (b) budget is for the construction of the new dual carriageway on the A358 between the M5 and the A303.

Dr. Ladyman
The Highways Agency is currently investigating options for the dualling of the A358 between the A303 and the M5 at Taunton. Neither a timetable nor budget have yet been approved for the implementation of this scheme.