Motoring group calls for dualling of entire A64 (From Gazette & Herald)

Motoring group calls for dualling of entire A64

FRESH calls for an upgrade of the A64 have been made by the RAC national motoring group.

The organisation published a proposal this week for a £20 billion programme to improve motoring conditions nationally.

The report suggests the A64 should be completely dualled between York and Scarborough to avoid rising accident rates and damage to the region's economy.

Edmund King, executive director of the foundation, said A64 widening was vital to combat "dire" bottlenecks.

"We believe it's essential for the region to be adequately linked to the motorway network," he said.

"If improvements do not take place on the A64, we will continue to see accidents increase and, as congestion gets worse, the region's economy will suffer."

He added that statistics highlighted clear safety benefits of full dual carriageways.

The RAC consulted transport experts and studied Highways Agency 'stress-maps' - highlighting congestion hot-spots - before adding the York-Scarborough route to its list of top priority projects not currently approved by the Government.

Eva Peros, spokesperson for the Department for Transport, said: "The Yorkshire and Humber Assembly has commissioned a study into the options for the A64 and it's currently being considered before a recommendation can be made to the Government."

No date is set for the decision for recommendation to be made.

Ryedale MP John Greenway said: "My view has always been that the stretch between Malton and York is a nightmare and why it does not qualify for dualling I do not know.

"The accident record for the road speaks for itself and I have raised the matter in the House of Commons on a number of occasions.

"At present, we are waiting for the results of the survey to be assessed and then it can be taken to the next stage."

Coun Brian Cottam, chairman of Ryedale council said: "I am greatly in favour of the road being dualled.

"Although the Government tries to make decisions based on economic policy, the big issue with me is how much do we value human life?

"The position of Ryedale District Council is that we continue to back calls for the dualling of the road."

Updated: 10:32 Wednesday, January 14, 2004