Asked by: Damian Green (Conservative - Ashford)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the potential cost to the public purse of creating a junction 8A on the M20; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
No estimate has been made as the Department has not received any representations seeking the construction of such a junction.
Asked by: Damian Green (Conservative - Ashford)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has received representations from Maidstone Borough Council on a proposed new Junction 8A on the M20; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
The Department has not received any representations from Maidstone Borough Council on this topic.
Asked by: Damian Green (Conservative - Ashford)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what criteria is required to be met for him to grant permission for the building of a new motorway junction.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
Paragraphs 37 to 44 of the Department’s Circular 02/2013, Strategic road network and the delivery of sustainable development, set out how proposals for the creation of new junctions or access to the strategic road network (including motorways) will be considered.
Asked by: Damian Green (Conservative - Ashford)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to instruct Highways England to remove the barrier on the M20 between Junctions 8 and 9; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Highways England are responsible for operational decisions regarding the strategic road network including the M20 in Kent.
Following the Government’s decision to stand down contingency planning for leaving the EU without a deal, Highways England and the Kent Resilience Forum will be considering the most suitable time to remove the barrier, taking into account the disruption this will cause, the impact closures will have on other planned works, as well as the ability to respond to any unplanned disruption at the ports, including severe weather.
Asked by: Damian Green (Conservative - Ashford)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance his Department has issued to Highways England on removing the barrier on the London-bound section of the M20; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The safety of road users is a priority both for the Department for Transport and for Highways England, and has been throughout the design and potential implementation of the Operation Brock traffic management contingency measures.
Highways England are responsible for operational decisions regarding the strategic road network in England, which includes the M20 in Kent. Decisions regarding significant changes to this road network – such as the removal of the metal barrier that is currently in place on the London-bound carriageway between junctions 8 and 9 of the M20, or the use of lanes on the M20 carriageways – are made on their advice and by taking into consideration the safety and convenience of all road users. The speed restrictions imposed on the contraflow system were put in place to ensure the safe use of the system by both freight and non-freight drivers.
The coast-bound carriageway between junctions 8 and 9 of the M20 is currently operating as a three-lane motorway and the Operation Brock contraflow system is not active on this part of the motorway. The London-bound carriageway has two running lanes, operating with a 50 mph speed limit.
The steel barrier on the London-bound carriageway will remain in place until further notice, to allow for the option of deploying the contraflow at short notice during times of cross-Channel disruption, caused by bad weather or industrial action as in the past, for example. The M20 barrier will remain under regular review over the coming months, but is unlikely to be removed before the end of October.
Asked by: Damian Green (Conservative - Ashford)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what criteria his Department plans to use to make a decision on the remove the metal barrier on the London-bound carriageway of the M20.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The safety of road users is a priority both for the Department for Transport and for Highways England, and has been throughout the design and potential implementation of the Operation Brock traffic management contingency measures.
Highways England are responsible for operational decisions regarding the strategic road network in England, which includes the M20 in Kent. Decisions regarding significant changes to this road network – such as the removal of the metal barrier that is currently in place on the London-bound carriageway between junctions 8 and 9 of the M20, or the use of lanes on the M20 carriageways – are made on their advice and by taking into consideration the safety and convenience of all road users. The speed restrictions imposed on the contraflow system were put in place to ensure the safe use of the system by both freight and non-freight drivers.
The coast-bound carriageway between junctions 8 and 9 of the M20 is currently operating as a three-lane motorway and the Operation Brock contraflow system is not active on this part of the motorway. The London-bound carriageway has two running lanes, operating with a 50 mph speed limit.
The steel barrier on the London-bound carriageway will remain in place until further notice, to allow for the option of deploying the contraflow at short notice during times of cross-Channel disruption, caused by bad weather or industrial action as in the past, for example. The M20 barrier will remain under regular review over the coming months, but is unlikely to be removed before the end of October.
Asked by: Damian Green (Conservative - Ashford)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has plans to reinstate three-lane running on both carriageways of the M20; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The safety of road users is a priority both for the Department for Transport and for Highways England, and has been throughout the design and potential implementation of the Operation Brock traffic management contingency measures.
Highways England are responsible for operational decisions regarding the strategic road network in England, which includes the M20 in Kent. Decisions regarding significant changes to this road network – such as the removal of the metal barrier that is currently in place on the London-bound carriageway between junctions 8 and 9 of the M20, or the use of lanes on the M20 carriageways – are made on their advice and by taking into consideration the safety and convenience of all road users. The speed restrictions imposed on the contraflow system were put in place to ensure the safe use of the system by both freight and non-freight drivers.
The coast-bound carriageway between junctions 8 and 9 of the M20 is currently operating as a three-lane motorway and the Operation Brock contraflow system is not active on this part of the motorway. The London-bound carriageway has two running lanes, operating with a 50 mph speed limit.
The steel barrier on the London-bound carriageway will remain in place until further notice, to allow for the option of deploying the contraflow at short notice during times of cross-Channel disruption, caused by bad weather or industrial action as in the past, for example. The M20 barrier will remain under regular review over the coming months, but is unlikely to be removed before the end of October.
Asked by: Damian Green (Conservative - Ashford)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will instruct Highways England to remove speed restrictions imposed on the M20 for Operation Brock on the coastbound carriageway of the M20.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The safety of road users is a priority both for the Department for Transport and for Highways England, and has been throughout the design and potential implementation of the Operation Brock traffic management contingency measures.
Highways England are responsible for operational decisions regarding the strategic road network in England, which includes the M20 in Kent. Decisions regarding significant changes to this road network – such as the removal of the metal barrier that is currently in place on the London-bound carriageway between junctions 8 and 9 of the M20, or the use of lanes on the M20 carriageways – are made on their advice and by taking into consideration the safety and convenience of all road users. The speed restrictions imposed on the contraflow system were put in place to ensure the safe use of the system by both freight and non-freight drivers.
The coast-bound carriageway between junctions 8 and 9 of the M20 is currently operating as a three-lane motorway and the Operation Brock contraflow system is not active on this part of the motorway. The London-bound carriageway has two running lanes, operating with a 50 mph speed limit.
The steel barrier on the London-bound carriageway will remain in place until further notice, to allow for the option of deploying the contraflow at short notice during times of cross-Channel disruption, caused by bad weather or industrial action as in the past, for example. The M20 barrier will remain under regular review over the coming months, but is unlikely to be removed before the end of October.
Asked by: Damian Green (Conservative - Ashford)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish the areas in Kent that have received a notification from Highways England in relation to their suitability for lorry parking.
Answered by Jesse Norman
As part of its work on Operation Brock, Highways England has written to over 1,000 landholders along the M2/A2 and M20/A20 corridors in Kent to seek permission to access their land for ecological surveys. These surveys are required for Highways England to gain a better understanding of the local environment, and should not be taken to indicate that any decisions have been taken. Further information will be published by Highways England early next year as potential options are explored as part of the planning process.
Asked by: Damian Green (Conservative - Ashford)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the progress of road works on the M20 between Junctions 3 and 6; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Jesse Norman
Work to upgrade the M20 between junctions 3 and 5 to a smart motorway began in March 2018. The scheme is estimated to be open for traffic in March 2020.
The main construction milestones for the M20 smart motorway scheme are on track to be met. These include works within the verge and central reserve to be completed by the end of November 2019.