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Dept for Transport Local Government and the Regions;Highways Agency

Answer

Mr. Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how much of the A43 between the M40 and the M1 is expected to be (a) wholly and (b) partially open by the weekend of 5 to 7 July; and if he will make a statement on action being taken to accelerate the works. [52255] Mr. Jamieson: [holding answer 29 April 2002]: I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. Tim Matthews, to write to the hon. Member. Letter from Tim Matthews to Mr. Tim Boswell, dated 30 April 2002: I have been asked by the Transport Minister, David Jamieson, to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the A43 between the M40 and the M1. To help traffic during the British Grand Prix weekend on Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th July, at least two lanes of the new Silverstone Bypass between the A413 junction and Dadford Road (the main access to the Circuit) will be available for access by coaches and official race traffic to and from the north. In addition, we aim to use existing A43 through Silverstone, to Towcester Bypass, as a one-way system as we did last year, making four lanes between the A413 junction and Dadford Road available to traffic to and from the north. The new Whitfield Turn and Brackley Hatch section is not sufficiently advanced to be used so we intend to make the existing A43 at Syresham and Pimlico one-way to ensure two-lane access to and from the Circuit from the south on Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th July. Traffic not intending to travel to the Grand Prix will be advised by signs, including the variable message signs on the motorway network, to use alternative routes. Traffic using the A43 between Brackley and Towcester, and not going to and from the Grand Prix, will be diverted. The improved A43 between the M40 and B4031 Barley Mow Roundabout will be operating as a two-lane dual carriageway. Junction 10 on the M40 should still be operating in its present form. Overall, there should be at least two lanes between M1 and M40 available for traffic going to and from the Grand Prix. The existing lengths of dual carriageway between M1 (Junction 15A) and the Abthorpe Road roundabout at Towcester and from the Barley Mow roundabout, around Brackley Bypass to Whitfield Turn are unaffected and will operate in their normal way. Ministers consider it important to support the Grand Prix as a showcase for an important UK industry whose success reflects positively on the UK. The Agency, the race organisers, the police and the contractor have successfully adopted a partnered approach to developing an accelerated programme to complete and use as much of the scheme as is required to allow a successful event.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

384 c681-2W;384 c680W; 52255

Session

2001-02

Subjects

Repairs and maintenance Motorways A43

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk