Member Article

David Cameron’s £290 million A1 dualling package greeted with both welcome and caution

Prime Minister David Cameron has announced that , as part of the government’s £15 billion English “roads revolution” programme, £290 million is allocated to make the A1 a dual carriageway all the way from London to Ellingham.

As a whole, the North East and Yorkshire will benefit from 18 new schemes worth around £2.3 billion, creating an estimated 1,500 construction jobs.

The dualled carriageway will link the Morpeth and Alnwick bypasses and a package of enhancements for the A1 north of Ellingham will include three stretches of climbing lanes, consisting of 2.5 miles and five junctions.

The much awaited plans have been greeted in positive fashion by many North East businesses and councils, as well as from the North East Chamber of Commerce, although an element of caution is present as doubt exists to when plans will actually be put into motion.

NECC Chief Executive, James Ramsbotham, said: “We welcome the announcements made ahead of the Autumn Statement, particularly the upgrades to the A1 North of Newcastle, A19 in Teesside and the feasibility studies announced for the A69 & A66.

“Successive Governments have failed to capitalise on the potential and huge capacity of increased development in the North of our region and upgrading this vital stretch of road will go some way to addressing that.

“North East business is driving forward growth and creating jobs and the estimated £900 million plus of infrastructure announcements that have been approved for our region in the last 18 months is a necessary step change.

Leader of the Northumberland County Council, Councillor Grant Davey, said: “This is excellent news, not just for motorists and residents but also for the economy of the county and the north east.

“Since we were elected in 2013 we have campaigned tirelessly for the dualling of the A1.

“We look forward to seeing a reduction in accidents and delays as well as clear economic benefits.”

However, Mr Ramsbotham did suggest that the government should be doing more for the region, saying: “It must not be forgotten that the North East is still a long way short of receiving the levels of infrastructure investment that will help to unlock further growth and job creation relative to other areas of the country.

“It is only by levelling the playing field in this way that we can be assured the private sector can reach its full potential in a region with enormous capacity for further growth.”

Newcastle upon Tyne North & Shadow Treasury Minister, MP Catherine McKinnell responded with similar caution.

Catherine said: ““We all know that improvements to our transport infrastructure in the region are desperately needed, and any investment in the North East is welcome, no matter how many times we’ve heard the Government re-announce it!

“But as always, the devil is in the detail. People will want to hear more about when this work might actually start, over what time period and how firm these spending commitments are.”

However David Cameron, who was in the North East today, proclaimed: “Work starts now.”

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