PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
M1: Exhaust Emissions (27 January 2017)

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 23 January 2017 to Question 61251, what steps he is taking to ensure that when the smart motorway opens between junctions 32 and 35a mitigation measures to improve air quality will at least offset any additional pollution from the expected increase in traffic volumes.

Asked by:
Mr Clive Betts (Labour)

Smart Motorways are at the core of Highways England’s £15bn investment programme to transform England’s Strategic Road Network, helping to ease congestion and improve traffic flow. Keeping traffic moving reduces stop-start decelerations and accelerations, which in itself has air quality benefits.

Highways England will announce any measures to improve air quality on the M1 between junctions 32-35a when the Smart Motorway scheme opens, which is expected to be in March 2017.

Highways England has undertaken environmental assessments of the scheme during the design and construction. These are available on Highways England’s website.

Answered by:
Sir John Hayes (Conservative)
1 February 2017