Next stage of A1 plans revealed
TRANSPORT bosses have unveiled plans for the next section of the A1 set to be transformed into a dual carriageway.
The stretch of road from Alnwick to Ellingham will be the last to gain a second lane, as part of a £290m scheme to improve safety and journey times on the major road.
In June, Highways England revealed details of the upgrade for the stretch between Morpeth and Felton, as part of a scheme which will see two-lane roads all the way from Newcastle to Ellingham.
Now, it has launched a second consultation, ahead of applying for planning permission to dual the carriageway between Alnwick and Ellingham.
The new section of road will stretch for 5.3 miles, starting at the end of the Alnwick bypass and joining the existing dual carriageway at Brownieside, near Ellingham.
While the Morpeth to Felton route involves a new carriageway being built to the west of part of the existing road, the works on this section will all be done on the existing route.
Project manager Mark Stoneman said road planners would work with locals in an attempt to minimise disruption during construction.
He said: “We have a commitment to keep the way free-flowing for traffic – any closures which need to take place would be at nighttime.
“If any diversions have to take place we will work with Northumberland County Council on those. At the moment we have a very high level view of the plans, and we’ll work closely with the community and local councillors on the detail of it.”
And he said the work would provide both economic benefits and increased safety.
“It’s very much needed – the road at the moment lends itself to overtaking, which can be dangerous, and we have direct access on to the A1 not just from local roads but agricultural vehicles turning directly on to a particularly busy road. We’re aiming to provide a safer A1, and improve journey times, which will mean haulage and HGV traffic along the road, which should help increase investment across the area.”
The plan is to remove the direct access on to the A1 from properties and side roads to create “safer”
access onto the carriageway for local traffic.
A footbridge to allow pedestrian access across the A1 will be constructed, either at Heckley Fence or Broxfield, depending on the outcome of the consultation.
A split-level junction is planned for Charlton Mires, roughly halfway along the route, creating access to local roads.
Subject to full permission being
granted, the work from Morpeth is set to start in 2020, with the Alnwick to Ellingham works beginning in 2021.
Under the scheme, junction improvements to the road North of Ellingham have already begun.
Work on junctions at Cheswick, Warenford, Station Road, Haggerstone Castle, Purdy Lodge and Fenham Hill will be started by the end of March 2020.