Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans his Department has to minimise disruption to road users arising from the removal of toll booths and plazas as a result of the abolition of tolls on the M4 second Severn Crossing on 31 December 2018.

Highways England are preparing the detailed plans for the removal of the M4 and M48 toll plazas and booths, as soon as it is safely practicable to do so, after tolls cease.

Highways England is developing a scheme that removes the charge and provides three lanes of free flowing traffic by 1 January 2019. It is highly likely that this solution will require traffic to be managed by a controlled speed environment as an interim measure whilst the remainder of the toll plaza is removed.

All works will be designed to ensure safety for staff and road users and to avoid disruption wherever possible.

Upon completion of the detailed design Highways England will make these plans available to stakeholders.