Asked by: Oliver Heald (Conservative - North East Hertfordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 9 December 2015 to Question 18426, what progress has been made on design development for the A1(M) Widening Scheme.
Answered by Andrew Jones
Highways England Delivery Plan, published in 2015, includes the introduction of smart motorways on the A1(M) between Junctions 6 and 8. This will provide improved capacity and better access, and should unlock much of the growth potential around Stevenage.
The scheme is commencing design development works now.
Asked by: Oliver Heald (Conservative - North East Hertfordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 15 June 2015 to Question 2065, what progress has been made on the design and planning of the A1 (M) widening scheme; when that process is expected to be completed; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The Department for Transport published the Roads Investment Strategy in December 2014, which set out plans to invest £15 billion in England’s motorways and major A roads between 2015/16 and 2020/21. Highways England subsequently published a Delivery Plan in March 2015, which outlined how this investment would be delivered across various projects. The Delivery Plan includes the introduction of Smart Motorways on the A1(M) between Junctions 6 and 8 will provide improved capacity and better access, and should unlock much of the growth potential around Stevenage.
The scheme is expected to start design development works early in 2016 and to commence construction by March 2020 at the latest, subject to determining the right operational solution and achieving a solution that is value for money.
Asked by: Oliver Heald (Conservative - North East Hertfordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the timetable is for the widening of the A1(M) in Hertfordshire.
Answered by Andrew Jones
I cannot provide an exact start date for construction. However, as stated in Highways England Delivery Plan 2015-2020, construction of the A1(M) Junction 6-8 smart motorway scheme in Hertfordshire is planned to start construction in late in the 2019/20, and complete approximately 12 months later.
The next step is the detailed design and planning of the scheme, plus consultation with the local community to produce the best possible scheme. That work will be taken forward by Highways England and is expected to start shortly.
Asked by: Oliver Heald (Conservative - North East Hertfordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what support his Department is giving to Hertfordshire County Council to assist with the upkeep of local roads.
Answered by Andrew Jones
My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport announced on 23 December 2014 funding allocations for local highway authorities in England between 2015/16 and 2020/21. This includes over £92 million for Hertfordshire. This funding can be used to reduce the number of potholes on the local road network.
It is for each local highway authority to improve the condition of the local road network through planned preventative maintenance. The Department for Transport’s role is to support local authorities through the provision of funding and by sharing good practice.
Further information on the funding allocations can be found at the following address: http://maps.dft.gov.uk/local-highways-maintenance-funding/
Asked by: Oliver Heald (Conservative - North East Hertfordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to start the feasibility study into widening the A1(M) between junctions six and eight.
Answered by John Hayes
Initial work to define the scope of the A1 East of England Strategic Study will start in late March 2015 and an engagement strategy for stakeholders is being developed to commence in early summer.
Asked by: Oliver Heald (Conservative - North East Hertfordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has plans to increase resources available to highway authorities to enforce requirements relating to reinstatement works by utility companies and statutory undertakers.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
The Department does not collect data relating to the quality of utility reinstatements.
The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State has met with representatives of both utility companies and local highway authorities to discuss street works, including the quality of reinstatements. In the last year the Department received 8 letters from MPs and 8 other items of correspondence about reinstatements.
It is for local authorities to determine the resources assigned to enforce requirements relating to street works. Councils have powers through the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 to inspect reinstatements and to require utilities to carry out remedial works to comply with their reinstatement duties. Further powers are available through the Traffic Management Act 2004 where local authorities can introduce permit schemes for street works, and enforce conditions about how works are carried out. A prescribed proportion of street work inspections is funded by utility companies, and authorities also have powers to bring prosecutions where the quality of reinstatement does not meet standards.
Asked by: Oliver Heald (Conservative - North East Hertfordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations he has received on the quality of reinstatement works by utility companies and statutory undertakers in the last year.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
The Department does not collect data relating to the quality of utility reinstatements.
The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State has met with representatives of both utility companies and local highway authorities to discuss street works, including the quality of reinstatements. In the last year the Department received 8 letters from MPs and 8 other items of correspondence about reinstatements.
It is for local authorities to determine the resources assigned to enforce requirements relating to street works. Councils have powers through the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 to inspect reinstatements and to require utilities to carry out remedial works to comply with their reinstatement duties. Further powers are available through the Traffic Management Act 2004 where local authorities can introduce permit schemes for street works, and enforce conditions about how works are carried out. A prescribed proportion of street work inspections is funded by utility companies, and authorities also have powers to bring prosecutions where the quality of reinstatement does not meet standards.
Asked by: Oliver Heald (Conservative - North East Hertfordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the quality of reinstatement work carried out by utility companies and statutory undertakers; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
The Department does not collect data relating to the quality of utility reinstatements.
The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State has met with representatives of both utility companies and local highway authorities to discuss street works, including the quality of reinstatements. In the last year the Department received 8 letters from MPs and 8 other items of correspondence about reinstatements.
It is for local authorities to determine the resources assigned to enforce requirements relating to street works. Councils have powers through the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 to inspect reinstatements and to require utilities to carry out remedial works to comply with their reinstatement duties. Further powers are available through the Traffic Management Act 2004 where local authorities can introduce permit schemes for street works, and enforce conditions about how works are carried out. A prescribed proportion of street work inspections is funded by utility companies, and authorities also have powers to bring prosecutions where the quality of reinstatement does not meet standards.