A1-The Great North Road
Here's a reply from DTLR posted on the SABRE message board on 2nd April 2002
- Is there a long-term policy for the motorway upgrades to the A1, or
is simply a scheme of upgrading as traffic requires?
There are no overall plans to turn all the remaining parts of the A1
not already built to motorway standard into a motorway. Various parts
of the A1 are currently being studied as part of the programme of
multi-modal and road based studies set up by the government after the
1998 Roads Review. The A1 north of Newcastle study has just recommended
partial dualing of the section between Morpeth and Berwick. The A1
Bramham-Barton study has recommended full up grade to motorway of the
remaining non-motorway sections between the A1(M) within Yorkshire. The
South Yorkshire Motorway Box multi modal study is looking at solutions
to various transport issues in this area which may lead to
recommendations to upgrade the section of the A1 north of Doncaster to
motorway. There are already schemes within the Government's targeted
programme of improvements to upgrade sections of the A1 to motorway
standard between Ferrybridge and Hook Moor and Wetherby and Walshford in
Yorkshire. There are also plans to improve various junctions between
Blyth and Peterborough. Stephen Powton
And this was posted on Sabre on 5th July 2002 by "A19"
"I'm surprised that no-one here knows this yet but the Government has recently announced that the non-motorway bits of the A1 between Bramham and Barton will be upgraded to motorway standard in a £253 million package. These include the Dishforth to North of Leeming Section and the North of Leeming to Barton Section just north of Scotch Corner.Apparently the schemes will be based on the centre line of the route, but the detailed design of Junctions, side roads etc will be subject to a Value Engineering Review. It is anticipated that the scheme will start construction in 2006 but the Dishforth to Barton Sections won't start until 2007/8. However, when it is finally completed this will ensure that Newcastle will be finaly linked up to the motorway network."
On the 16th of October 2002, the government announced a £145 million spending programme on roads. Most of the spending is to be on fairly small projects concerned with improving safety and relieving local traffic congestion. The following is a list of places on the A1 included in the government's announcement.
A1 Stannington GSJ Safety
A1/A177 Bowburn Interchange signalisation Congestion
A1 Rainton Crossroads Safety
A1 Jockey Lane GSJ & Elkesley Link Safety
A1 Foston gap closures Safety
A1 Wittering GSJ Safety/economy
A1 Stibbington Safety
A1(M) J6 Southbound entry Congestion
(GSJ = grade separated junction)
Hansard, in May 2002, records the following questions and answers regarding the A1 north of Newcastle.
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) what work is planned on the A1 between Newcastle and Edinburgh;
9 May 2002 : Column: 297W
(2) what major infrastructure work has been carried out on the A1 between Newcastle and Edinburgh in the last 15 years; and in each case (a) what the aim and nature of the works were, (b) which Government body was responsible, (c) how long the works took and (d) how much the works cost
what recent analysis has been carried out into alternative routes for traffic using the A1 between Newcastle and Edinburgh.
Mr. Byers: I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency, Tim Matthews to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from David York to Mrs. Theresa May, dated 9 May 2002:
Tim Matthews has been asked by the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about the A1 between Newcastle and Edinburgh. I am replying since Tim is currently away on Highways Agency business.
9 May 2002 : Column: 298W
The Highways Agency has responsibility for this route between Newcastle and the Scottish Border.
Works currently planned by us for that length of the road include improvements to the A1 Stannington Grade Separated Junction and widening the Newcastle Western Bypass to take account of planning conditions imposed on development at Newcastle Great Park. The latter scheme is funded wholly by the developer.
In addition, we will be carrying out maintenance work including resurfacing north of Morpeth, improving the Seven Mile Bridge north of Seaton Burn and repainting Clifton Bridge at the south end of Morpeth Bypass. The Government Office led A1 Multi-Modal study is looking at alternatives to the A1. The study is expected to report very shortly.
A number of works have been carried out on this length of road over the last 15 years. Prior to 1994 schemes were handled by the Department of Transport. Since 1994 the Highways Agency has been responsible. A list of those works is attached.
|
| ||
| Aim and nature of scheme | Duration (if known) | Cost (if known) (£) |
|---|---|---|
| A1 Stannington Diversion (Clifton to Stannington Bridge)—dual carriageway bypass of Stannington Village | 2 years | 6.4 million |
| A1 South of Alnwick—upgrading to dual carriageway | 7 months | 0.8 million |
| A1 Newcastle Western Bypass—6.9 miles of dual carriageway with grade separated junctions | 4 years | 116.3 million |
| A1 Marshall Meadows Improvement—1.7 miles upgrade to dual carriageway | 15 months | 4.1 million |
| A1 Brownieside Improvement—dual carriageway bypass | 17 months | 5.5 million |
| A1 Blagdon Bridge—new overbridge and grade separated junction | 10 months | 1.4 million |
| A1 Hitchcroft to Cawledge—upgrade to dual carriageway | 15 months | 2.8 million |
| A1 Felton to Lanehead—upgrade to dual carriageway | 9 months | 2.3 million |
| A1 Willowburn to Denwick—upgrade to dual carriageways (currently on site) | Under construction | 8 million |
| A1 Newcastle Great Park—Brunton Interchange improvements(6) | 9 months | 800,000 |
The scheme at Newcastle Great Park is being funded by a private developer. All other schemes have been funded by central Government.
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what estimate he has made of the increase in traffic on the A1 between Newcastle and Edinburgh over the lifetime of the 10-year plan.
Mr. Byers: The 10-year plan applies to England. As part of the work carried out in connection with the A1 multi-modal study, consultants have assessed potential traffic growth on the A1 between Newcastle and the Scottish border just north of Berwick on Tweed.
Flows on the A1 are currently:
New Morpeth—16,200 vehicles per day
Alnwick to Berwick on Tweed—8,600 vehicles per day.
Estimates show that in 2011 flows on the A1 are expected to be in the region of:
New Morpeth—19,100 vehicles per day
Alnwick to Berwick on Tweed—10,100 vehicles per day.
Lincolnshire
©Biff Vernon 2002