Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reason inspection covers have been embedded in the inside lane of the M3 between junction 3 and the M25.

The minimum standards for inspection covers embedded in live lanes of smart motorways are set out in Highways England’s Interim Advice Note (IAN 161/15) and Chief Highway Engineer’s Memorandum (CHE Memo 397/17).

The M3 between junction 3 and the M25 has a number of drainage pipes and associated inspection chambers located under the inside lane. During the upgrade to smart motorway, which included converting the hard shoulder into the new inside running lane, Highways England strengthened the inspection chambers and replaced the inspection covers where necessary in order that they meet the required wheel loading and skid resistance standards.