£71m congestion-busting new motorway in West Yorkshire officially opened
A vital scheme to upgrade a key stretch of the A1 to motorway standard – delivering improved journey times and safety on a nationally important route – was officially opened by Transport Minister Chris Mole today (Tuesday 1 December 2009).
Motorists and hauliers using England’s newest stretch of motorway on the A1 between Bramham and Wetherby in West Yorkshire are benefiting from safer and more reliable journeys after the road was widened to three lanes in both directions.
Helping to bridge the missing link of motorway between London and Newcastle, the £71million scheme upgraded six miles (10km) of dual carriageway. This included widening the A1 at Wetherby to three lanes in each direction to remove a severe bottleneck; the construction of a new bypass for the market town of Wetherby to remove traffic and improve the local environment; and miles of improvements to the local road network to improve safety for local and long distance traffic.
At the official opening ceremony and plaque unveiling at Wetherby Grange, Chris Mole said:
“The completion of this vital work on A1 between Bramham and Wetherby – completed thanks to the Government’s up to £6bn investment to improve some of the nation’s busiest roads – is a significant milestone in our commitment to increase capacity and improve journey times and road safety on the busiest sections of motorways and trunk roads.
“The A1 is of both regional and national importance forming a major transport spine through the North of England, carrying goods and people and supporting investment.
“I am delighted to report that drivers are already experiencing fewer delays on the A1(M) during peak periods as a result of this scheme. Up to 85,000 vehicles a day use this route, including many heavy good vehicles, and these crucial improvements will make an invaluable contribution to business and economy as well as helping keep family and friends connected.”
Regional Minister for Yorkshire and the Humber, Rosie Winterton, said:
“I am delighted that this scheme has been completed successfully. The upgrade of this vital transport route is a major boost to our region, helping to bridge the missing motorway link between London and Newcastle, and creating safer and more reliable journeys for both local and long-distance travellers.”
The scheme follows similar upgrades to adjoining stretches between Wetherby and Walshford as well as between Ferrybridge and Hook Moor. The upgrade scheme included the removal of local junctions at Bramham, Wetherby Grange and Walton Road, the upgrade of electronic signing along the new motorway and construction of new bridges at River Wharfe, Wetherby Grange and Walton Road.
Local road users are also set to benefit from the new local access road constructed as part of the upgrade to help separate local traffic from motorway traffic. The new access road also aims to ease congestion in Wetherby town centre, helping to improve traffic and environmental conditions in the town.
Pedestrians, cyclists and equestrians also stand to benefit from seven miles (12km) of additional routes that have been built to provide a safer network for them.
Work on the next stretch – the 13-mile (20km) section of road between Dishforth and Leeming in North Yorkshire – got underway in March and is due to be completed by spring 2012.
When all work is completed, there will be 60 miles (96km) of three-lane motorway between Ferrybridge in West Yorkshire and Barton in North Yorkshire.
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