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Dept for Transport;Highways Agency

Answer

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what steps he is taking to monitor traffic congestion in North Warrington with particular reference to the Winwick area, while repairs to the Thelwall viaduct are being carried out; [132685] (2) when he expects the repair work being carried out on the Thelwall viaduct to be completed. [132686] Mr. McNulty: I have asked the acting Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, to write to my hon. Friend on these matters. Letter from Keith Miller to Ms Helen Jones dated 20 October 2003: Tony McNulty has asked Stephen Hickey, Acting Chief Executive of the Highways Agency to reply to your two recent Parliamentary Questions about traffic congestion in North Warrington, arising from ongoing works to the M6 Motorway Thelwall Viaduct, and the expected timescale for completion of those works. Stephen is currently away on official business and I am writing on his behalf. The Highways Agency is responsible for the operation, management, maintenance, and improvement, of the trunk road and motorway network in England, including the M6 Thelwall Viaduct. As you may be aware, the Agency's ongoing works are to replace 140 support bearings, following the discovery, during a routine inspection in July 2002, of a single failed support bearing on the viaduct carrying northbound traffic. All but one lane of that particular viaduct was then closed, and traffic is now carried on this single lane allowing access to Warrington at Junction 21, and on six reduced-width lanes on the viaduct carrying southbound traffic (three lanes in each direction) in contraflow, with a 40mph speed limit. Detailed investigations were urgently carried out and these revealed other failures in the bridge support bearings. The Agency is conscious that traffic is diverting onto the local road network, including the Winwick area, as a result of the ongoing works and is working closely with Warrington Borough Council on this issue. Data is being collected by both the Council and the Agency to assess the impact of the traffic diversions. Our aim is to re-open the northbound viaduct as soon as is practicable, and expect to complete the repair works by Spring 2005. However, we are in discussions with the Contractor to identify whether an earlier completion date for the works is possible. I hope this is helpful. If you would like any further information on this matter, please contact the Agency's Project Manager for the viaduct repairs, David Brindle, Room 803, Sunley Tower, Piccadilly Plaza, Manchester M1 4BE telephone 0161 930 5653.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

411 c355-6W;411 c359-60W; 132685;132686

Session

2002-03

Subjects

Bridges Road traffic Repairs and maintenance M6 Warrington

Link

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