Motorway is now open all the way between Newcastle and London

TENS OF thousands of drivers in North Yorkshire should face fewer traffic jams following the opening of a new three-lane stretch of the A1.

The £400m upgrade between Leeming and Barton means the only section of non-motorway on the M1/A1(M) route between London and Newcastle is a thing of the past.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling officially opened the route yesterday, saying: “Our record investment to improve our roads is making a real difference to people’s lives – providing quicker and safer journeys for millions of drivers.

“This scheme will not only save motorists time stuck in traffic, but will also help unlock £1bn into the economy.

“It also fills in the missing link to provide motorway-standard roads between Newcastle and London, helping businesses in the North by opening up new opportunities thanks to better and more reliable connections to the rest of the country.”

The additional capacity which comes from adding an extra lane in each direction near Catterick promises to reduce journey times by a fifth, and with safety benefits meaning fewer accidents.

Over the next 60 years the improved road is predicted to prevent 450 accidents and save 20 lives, Highways England said.

Its senior project manager Tom Howard said: “This is great news for the almost 70,000 drivers who already use this section every day and whose journeys will be safer and faster

“At the same time we’ve also made it easier for local people to access the A1 safely, and we’ve planted miles of hedgerows and acres of woodland.

“This has been the biggest road project in the North.”