Top-level talks to look at big upgrade for A64 (From Gazette & Herald)

Top-level talks to look at big upgrade for A64

CALLS to upgrade the A64 between York and Scarborough to two lanes will be discussed in a high-profile Government meeting, a minister has revealed.

In a move that will please campaigners, minister for transport John Spellar indicated that the future of the road would be considered at a meeting at Westminster next week.

Delegates from North Yorkshire County Council, Ryedale District Council and Scarborough Borough Council will meet the roads minister, David Jamieson, on Tuesday in a bid to highlight concerns about the busy highway.

There has been a long-running campaign from residents and councillors to upgrade the road to combat congestion and frustration during the busy summer period. Single-lane sections of the road are also considered to be accident blackspots, with dangerous junctions and bends the cause of a number of crashes and near-misses in recent years.

Mr Spellar said: "There will be a meeting about the A64 next week. It is certainly one of the roads that's being looked at with a long-term problem."

North Yorkshire county councillor Peter Sowray, executive member for environmental services, said dualling would be a key topic that delegates would be bringing up with the minister.

Meanwhile, Mr Spellar further outlined plans for a massive upgrade for the A1 in North Yorkshire. Yesterday he announced details of a £263 million scheme to provide a full motorway link between the North East and the rest of England.

Three sections of the carriageway will be developed from two lanes to three lanes - between Bramham and Wetherby, Dishforth and Leeming and Leeming and Barton. The project, costing around £9.3 million per mile, is due to begin in 2006 and finish in 2011. Once complete, the new road will deliver continuous motorway access between Gateshead and London via the A1(M) and M1.

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Updated: 12:32 Wednesday, June 26, 2002