M25 to be open in 1986
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WORK on the last section of the M25 London orbital route, fro South Mimms to Micklefield Green in Hertfordshire, is expected start next spring, and the complete route will be open by 1986.
Transport Secretary David Howell made this pledge last week when he opened the 11mile M11/A127 section in Essex and gave the go-ahead for two more sections. The opening of the Essex section means that more than half of the route is in
use.
A £14.6m contract has been let for the Leatherhead-Reigate Hill section in Surrey, which is scheduled for completion in connection with the opening of the Wisley-Leatherhead section in early 1985.
By next spring, the South Mimms-Micklefield Green and the missing Kent section, from Swanley to Sevenoaks, should be under construction. The Government has made orders for the Kent section, and has turned down suggestions that part of it be built in tunnel.
Further sign of the progress on the M25 was expected this week when Transport Under Secretary Lynda Chalker was to attend the start of construction on the £44m Poyle/M4 section near Heathrow Airport.
Commenting on the opening of the Essex section last week,
Mr Howell said: "This new SE tion of motorway entirely fulfi the main objectives of our ra programme — to aid Indust and help lay the foundations the sustainable econom growth towards which this Gc ernment is successfully workin
"And at the same time to it prove the quality of life for tho living in towns and villages nc suffering from heavy throul traffic which, in a civilise society, has no place there," I added.
• The M4 is to be widened four lanes for under a mile cope with the extra traffic gen( ated by the M25.
Proposals published by tl Department of Transport %Ai mean four lanes each way b tween the Heathrow Airpc turn-off at junction 4 and tl M25 junction being built.
Two new lanes will be built the south on the existir motorway, while the eastbour carriageway will be realigned that in effect the fast lane on ti westbound carriageway will b come the fast lane on ti eastbound motorway.