A13

Mr. William Powell
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what improvements to the Al3 between the North Circular road and the Tower of London will be started before 31 December; at what cost; and when they will be completed;(2) what improvements to the Al3 between the North Circular road and the Tower of London are currently in progress; at what cost; and when they will be completed.

Mr. Portillo
The Department's responsibilities are for the Al3 trunk road, which runs as far west as Butcher row. The remainder of the A13 known as Commercial road is the responsibility of the London borough of Tower Hamlets.Departmental schemes currently under construction are:
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|Scheme                                            |
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|Strengthening of Britannia Bridge                 |
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|Creation of access to "Financial Times"           |
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|West India Dock Road junction interim improvements|
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|Cotton Street junction interim improvements2      |
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|Leamouth Road junction interim improvements       |
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|Ironbridge waterproofing and resurfacing          |
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|Cumberland Road Subway refurbishment              |
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|Tollgate Road signalled junction                  |
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Progress on most of the trunk road schemes are dependent on the completion of statutory processes which could be subject to public inquiry and delay. Completion dates are therefore provisional.Permanent schemes at Butcher row, West India Dock road and Blackwall tunnel northern approach-Cotton street will follow in 1993, when a three and a half year project will commence to make final improvements to the Leamouth road junction and widen the Ironbridge, including the connection of LDDC's East India dock link to the A13.Towards the end of this year we hope to publish Orders for improvement of the A13 junction with the A117 East  Ham Manor way and to hold an exhibition of proposals for improvement of the Al3 junction with the A112 Prince Regent lane.The traffic control systems unit of the City of London is investigating on behalf of the Department the possible co-ordintation of signals on the Al3 trunk road in Tower Hamlets to expedite the flow of through traffic.