Plans to reduce maximum speeds along part of the M3 in Surrey are not a precursor to a new national lower motorway speed limit, a Government official has insisted.

The Highways Agency launched a consultation last Thursday into creating a 60MPH limit on a 5km section of the M3 between Lightwater (junction 3) and Farnborough (junction 4) between the hours of 7am and 7pm.

The Agency says that the change is necessary to bring air quality levels within the permitted legal limit when an additional lane is added to each carriageway. This forms part of an upgrade to a 21km stretch of the M3 to Smart Motorway standard.

"The lower speed limit is entirely an environmental measure and we hope it will only be required for up to four years," the official said. "This is when our technical advice says that a new generation of cleaner vehicles will come on stream. This is absolutely not about introducing 60MPH across the country."

Roads Minister Robert Goodwill added: "Introducing speed controls for air quality reasons is proposed for less than 1% of the strategic road network. Any proposed limit will be removed as soon as air quality levels improve."

Motoring group the AA has expressed fears that reducing maximum speeds for environmental reasons may result in the introduction of a nationwide 60MPH motorway limit "by the back door".

(Photo: Highways Agency)

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