Motorway Construction

Mr. Speed
asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the latest estimated starting and completion dates for all sections of the M20, M25 and M26 motorways.

Mr. Horam
I give below the time bands within which, subject to the completion of the statutory procedures and the availability of funds, construction of all sections of the M20, M25 and M26 not yet begun or open to traffic is expected to start: ---------------------------------------------
|M20 Maidstone to Ashford         |1980–1982|
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|Ashford to Folkestone            |1978–1979|
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|M25 Swanley to Sevenoaks         |1980–1982|
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|Reigate to Wisley                |1978–1979|
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|Wisley to Chertsey               |1978–1979|
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|Chertsey to Thorpe               |1978–1979|
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|Egham to Yeoveney                |1978–1979|
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|Yeoveney to Heathrow Airport Spur|1978–1979|
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|Airport Spur to M4               |1980–1982|
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|M4 to Maple Cross                |1980–1982|
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|Micklefield Green to South Mimms |1980–1982|
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|A10 to M1l                       |1978–1979|
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|M1l to A12                       |1978–1979|
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The sections of the M25 from Seven-oaks to Godstone are under construction and are expected to be open to traffic in the second half of 1979. The date for which the start of work on the section from the A12 to the A13 is now being revised.Construction work on the section of the M20 from West Kingsdown to Wrotham, on the Sevenoaks Interchange,  Runnymede Bridge and the section of the M25 from the Alll to the A10, and on the M26, is expected to start later this year.I would expect the contract periods to be from two to three years.