A1 Northumberland Dualling

[KeithW]

You can say the exact same about the A696/A68.

My experience is there are fewer large HGV's on the A696/A68, I suspect Carter Bar is a bit off putting

[KeithW]

Did the A68 route a couple of years ago, the 20mph zones are a real pain, makes the A1 look better, though we do like a photo stop at Carter Bar.

Vince

There really are not that many 20 zones between Corby and Edinburgh, there is one in Jedburgh buts its only a mile or so, same sort of setup at Earlston and Lauder. Those speed limits may add as much as 3 to 5 minutes to the journey time When it comes to real pains I would nominate the A1 past the Metro Centre, now there you can find some REAL delays.

[Mark Hewitt]

Did the A68 route a couple of years ago, the 20mph zones are a real pain, makes the A1 look better, though we do like a photo stop at Carter Bar.

Vince

There really are not that many 20 zones between Corby and Edinburgh, there is one in Jedburgh buts its only a mile or so, same sort of setup at Earlston and Lauder. Those speed limits may add as much as 3 to 5 minutes to the journey time When it comes to real pains I would nominate the A1 past the Metro Centre, now there you can find some REAL delays.

'Twas ever thus. Although the recent extra lanes have eased the pain there but not eliminated it.

These days the real issue is Southbound at the exit for the A1231. Used to be a lane gain from the A167 but the widening works have (maybe ironically) cut the number of lanes there down to two and it causes tailbacks to the Team Valley and beyond.

[Rob590]

'Twas ever thus. Although the recent extra lanes have eased the pain there but not eliminated it.

These days the real issue is Southbound at the exit for the A1231. Used to be a lane gain from the A167 but the widening works have (maybe ironically) cut the number of lanes there down to two and it causes tailbacks to the Team Valley and beyond.

The works north of the Tyne have also made a real improvement there. When the job is completed between Coal House and Birtley, then outside of the commuter peak the whole A1 from Washington to Hazelrigg - ie on Tyneside - will finally be a decent, fluid route, albeit under 50/60 limits. Returning on topic a bit more, this would increase the case for dualling the A1 in Northumberland as the Tyneside stretch will not be the block that it once was.

If that ever happened - and clearly we're talking 15, 20 years away at least - the 2 lanes Darlington - Chester-le-Street (J56-J63) will be liable to become the next pinch point!

[Mark Hewitt]

If that ever happened - and clearly we're talking 15, 20 years away at least - the 2 lanes Darlington - Chester-le-Street (J56-J63) will be liable to become the next pinch point!

Having experienced quite the slog commuting down there this morning I would say it already is!

[jackal]

The recommendation report was sent to then-Secretary of State Grant Shapps on 5 October 2021, and was due for a decision in early January 2022. Baffled at how things could be taking so long I looked into the reasons given for the various extensions, and found this: "The extension is in light of the Written Statement made by the Secretary of State on 26 May 2022 regarding the Union Connectivity Review" (https://questions-statements.parliament ... -06/hcws73). The written statement includes this:

Several of the Union Connectivity Review recommendations concern ongoing projects, which may be impacted by the Union Connectivity Review response. The A1 Morpeth to Ellingham scheme is one such case, as it relates to Sir Peter’s recommendation for a multimodal study of the East Coast Corridor to identify the best opportunities for improvement. We therefore propose to consider how best to align the future progression of the scheme with our consideration of this recommendation and the outcome of any study that may be proposed.

So it appears the Union Connectivity Review has had results after all - a reduction in union connectivity.

[Thomas550]

It would seem that another political campaign to dual the A1 has arisen By the name of Britian Remade. https://www.britainremade.co.uk/a1dualling . Mainly stating how the government is likjely just going to forever put the project on hold by delaying it again. Of course there's no mention of how THEY'D do it without causing misery.

[Bryn666]

The recommendation report was sent to then-Secretary of State Grant Shapps on 5 October 2021, and was due for a decision in early January 2022. Baffled at how things could be taking so long I looked into the reasons given for the various extensions, and found this: "The extension is in light of the Written Statement made by the Secretary of State on 26 May 2022 regarding the Union Connectivity Review" (https://questions-statements.parliament ... -06/hcws73). The written statement includes this:

Several of the Union Connectivity Review recommendations concern ongoing projects, which may be impacted by the Union Connectivity Review response. The A1 Morpeth to Ellingham scheme is one such case, as it relates to Sir Peter’s recommendation for a multimodal study of the East Coast Corridor to identify the best opportunities for improvement. We therefore propose to consider how best to align the future progression of the scheme with our consideration of this recommendation and the outcome of any study that may be proposed.

So it appears the Union Connectivity Review has had results after all - a reduction in union connectivity.

The UCR has died because the government has now realised there's no point bribing Scottish voters. They won't link areas that don't vote for them, this is the level of vindictiveness they operate on.

[Truvelo]

It would seem that another political campaign to dual the A1 has arisen By the name of Britian Remade. https://www.britainremade.co.uk/a1dualling . Mainly stating how the government is likjely just going to forever put the project on hold by delaying it again. Of course there's no mention of how THEY'D do it without causing misery.

The photo at the top of the page with queuing traffic and the drivers stepping out of their cars is not the A1.

[jackal]

The recommendation report was sent to then-Secretary of State Grant Shapps on 5 October 2021, and was due for a decision in early January 2022. Baffled at how things could be taking so long I looked into the reasons given for the various extensions, and found this: "The extension is in light of the Written Statement made by the Secretary of State on 26 May 2022 regarding the Union Connectivity Review" (https://questions-statements.parliament ... -06/hcws73). The written statement includes this:

Several of the Union Connectivity Review recommendations concern ongoing projects, which may be impacted by the Union Connectivity Review response. The A1 Morpeth to Ellingham scheme is one such case, as it relates to Sir Peter’s recommendation for a multimodal study of the East Coast Corridor to identify the best opportunities for improvement. We therefore propose to consider how best to align the future progression of the scheme with our consideration of this recommendation and the outcome of any study that may be proposed.

So it appears the Union Connectivity Review has had results after all - a reduction in union connectivity.

The UCR has died because the government has now realised there's no point bribing Scottish voters. They won't link areas that don't vote for them, this is the level of vindictiveness they operate on.

Leaving aside the broader issues, the proposed scheme is in a pretty prime location for serving the Conservative's interests. Of the five surrounding constituencies, four are Con held: Berwick is safe Con, Berwickshire is a Con/SNP marginal, Hexham (which stretches into Newcastle's suburbs) is safe Con, and Blythe Valley is a Con/Lab marginal (and the blue wall poster child). In the fifth seat, Wansbeck, Labour hold a mere 814 majority over the Tories (this seat is being abolished though).

Electoral strategy or pork barrel politics might explain why this scheme made it into the programme in the first place, but certainly can't explain why it's so delayed.

[jabbaboy]

The recommendation report was sent to then-Secretary of State Grant Shapps on 5 October 2021, and was due for a decision in early January 2022. Baffled at how things could be taking so long I looked into the reasons given for the various extensions, and found this: "The extension is in light of the Written Statement made by the Secretary of State on 26 May 2022 regarding the Union Connectivity Review" (https://questions-statements.parliament ... -06/hcws73). The written statement includes this:

So it appears the Union Connectivity Review has had results after all - a reduction in union connectivity.

The UCR has died because the government has now realised there's no point bribing Scottish voters. They won't link areas that don't vote for them, this is the level of vindictiveness they operate on.

Leaving aside the broader issues, the proposed scheme is in a pretty prime location for serving the Conservative's interests. Of the five surrounding constituencies, four are Con held: Berwick is safe Con, Berwickshire is a Con/SNP marginal, Hexham (which stretches into Newcastle's suburbs) is safe Con, and Blythe Valley is a Con/Lab marginal (and the blue wall poster child). In the fifth seat, Wansbeck, Labour hold a mere 814 majority over the Tories (this seat is being abolished though).

Electoral strategy or pork barrel politics might explain why this scheme made it into the programme in the first place, but certainly can't explain why it's so delayed.

It got in as Trevelyan partially won the seat on the promise. Berwick used to be a strong Lib Dem ground before 2015. Now it's just a policy which they get out the cupboard every 4/5 years and then forget about again.

Moor Farm is the other one around here which is the same. They'll delay this until election time and then announce it and leave Labour (who will win the next election) to sort it out. The Northumberland Line (railway) has conveniently been delayed until Summer 2024 aswell now.

[mbeatts]

And today's the big day

[Paul7755]

And today's the big day

…and as expected it was kicked right into the long grass again:

https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/ ... m-decision

[NICK 647063]

Sorry but this scheme needs cancelling, very rarely do we see delays on that section of the A1, currently the A66 is used from the A1(M) to cut across to the M6 and then up to Scotland, given that the much needed A66 dualling is likely to go ahead that route would become even more attractive, thus taking more traffic off the A1 north of Newcastle.

The A1 traffic volumes simply don’t warrant this improvement, the A64 scheme which is forever pushed back deals with a chronically congested section of road where many lives have been lost, a scheme like that should be taking the funding rather than the A1 scheme that isn’t required.

[KeithW]

Sorry but this scheme needs cancelling, very rarely do we see delays on that section of the A1, currently the A66 is used from the A1(M) to cut across to the M6 and then up to Scotland, given that the much needed A66 dualling is likely to go ahead that route would become even more attractive, thus taking more traffic off the A1 north of Newcastle.

The A1 traffic volumes simply don’t warrant this improvement, the A64 scheme which is forever pushed back deals with a chronically congested section of road where many lives have been lost, a scheme like that should be taking the funding rather than the A1 scheme that isn’t required.

The issue is not so traffic volumes but what happens when there is an HGV breakdown or an incident. With no hard shoulder passing is very difficult. The queues can become very long and even getting a recovery vehicle to the scene can be a challenge.

[owen b]

Sorry but this scheme needs cancelling, very rarely do we see delays on that section of the A1, currently the A66 is used from the A1(M) to cut across to the M6 and then up to Scotland, given that the much needed A66 dualling is likely to go ahead that route would become even more attractive, thus taking more traffic off the A1 north of Newcastle.

The A1 traffic volumes simply don’t warrant this improvement, the A64 scheme which is forever pushed back deals with a chronically congested section of road where many lives have been lost, a scheme like that should be taking the funding rather than the A1 scheme that isn’t required.

The issue is not so traffic volumes but what happens when there is an HGV breakdown or an incident. With no hard shoulder passing is very difficult. The queues can become very long and even getting a recovery vehicle to the scene can be a challenge.

If that's the problem then surely widening the existing road to WS2 would be sufficient. My recollection is that most or all of Morpeth to Felton is wider than standard S2 already, so I presume that widening to WS2 would be a whole lot cheaper than full dualling.

I agree with NICK 647063 that the A66 (Scotch Corner to Penrith) is a much higher priority than the Northumberland stretch of the A1 for improving East of England (by which I mean North East, Yorkshire, East Midlands) links with Scotland.

[Paul7755]

Sorry but this scheme needs cancelling, very rarely do we see delays on that section of the A1, currently the A66 is used from the A1(M) to cut across to the M6 and then up to Scotland, given that the much needed A66 dualling is likely to go ahead that route would become even more attractive, thus taking more traffic off the A1 north of Newcastle.

The A1 traffic volumes simply don’t warrant this improvement, the A64 scheme which is forever pushed back deals with a chronically congested section of road where many lives have been lost, a scheme like that should be taking the funding rather than the A1 scheme that isn’t required.

The issue is not so traffic volumes but what happens when there is an HGV breakdown or an incident. With no hard shoulder passing is very difficult. The queues can become very long and even getting a recovery vehicle to the scene can be a challenge.

I said a while back, (was it really 4 years ago?), it should probably have been dealt with as one or two associated road safety schemes. One for the junction at Charlton Mires, and another for the south end of the Felton Bypass. Simple overbridges with space for dualling in the distant future.

Constantly describing it as “Morpeth to Ellingham dualling”, ignoring the existing dualled sections, just exaggerates the purpose of the project. It’s misguided spin that as far as I’m concerned acts in a negative way.

[Conekicker]

The recommendation report was sent to then-Secretary of State Grant Shapps on 5 October 2021, and was due for a decision in early January 2022. Baffled at how things could be taking so long I looked into the reasons given for the various extensions, and found this: "The extension is in light of the Written Statement made by the Secretary of State on 26 May 2022 regarding the Union Connectivity Review" (https://questions-statements.parliament ... -06/hcws73). The written statement includes this:

So it appears the Union Connectivity Review has had results after all - a reduction in union connectivity.

The UCR has died because the government has now realised there's no point bribing Scottish voters. They won't link areas that don't vote for them, this is the level of vindictiveness they operate on.

Leaving aside the broader issues, the proposed scheme is in a pretty prime location for serving the Conservative's interests. Of the five surrounding constituencies, four are Con held: Berwick is safe Con, Berwickshire is a Con/SNP marginal, Hexham (which stretches into Newcastle's suburbs) is safe Con, and Blythe Valley is a Con/Lab marginal (and the blue wall poster child). In the fifth seat, Wansbeck, Labour hold a mere 814 majority over the Tories (this seat is being abolished though).

Electoral strategy or pork barrel politics might explain why this scheme made it into the programme in the first place, but certainly can't explain why it's so delayed.

How far is it from the centre of the known universe, otherwise known as Westminster?

[jabbaboy]

Sorry but this scheme needs cancelling, very rarely do we see delays on that section of the A1, currently the A66 is used from the A1(M) to cut across to the M6 and then up to Scotland, given that the much needed A66 dualling is likely to go ahead that route would become even more attractive, thus taking more traffic off the A1 north of Newcastle.

The A1 traffic volumes simply don’t warrant this improvement, the A64 scheme which is forever pushed back deals with a chronically congested section of road where many lives have been lost, a scheme like that should be taking the funding rather than the A1 scheme that isn’t required.

The issue is not so traffic volumes but what happens when there is an HGV breakdown or an incident. With no hard shoulder passing is very difficult. The queues can become very long and even getting a recovery vehicle to the scene can be a challenge.

If that's the problem then surely widening the existing road to WS2 would be sufficient. My recollection is that most or all of Morpeth to Felton is wider than standard S2 already, so I presume that widening to WS2 would be a whole lot cheaper than full dualling.

I agree with NICK 647063 that the A66 (Scotch Corner to Penrith) is a much higher priority than the Northumberland stretch of the A1 for improving East of England (by which I mean North East, Yorkshire, East Midlands) links with Scotland.

The section between Morpeth and Felton is badly needed and is congested every day and well over capacity. Doing bit part upgrades is just a waste of money, just do the thing properly instead of messing about doing placemeal upgrades to then do it properly anyway. You'll just end up wasting money like what happened on the A9 at Bankfoot and doing it twice. It's only 7 miles, it's not like were talking about a 20 mile upgrade and they've already bought the land as far as I'm aware.

It shouldn't be an either or, the A1 and the A66 need doing and both have different reasons, it's nothing to do with Scottish traffic - it's more local traffic travelling to Alnwick and the Northumberland Coast mostly.

Personally, if were going to get the best use out of the road, I'd love to see an S1 built between Felton and the A697 North of Longframlington somewhere or at least Longhosley and give those villages a much needed bypass, fix 2 things with it. It's only 3 mile or so between the two roads.

[Conekicker]

Sorry but this scheme needs cancelling, very rarely do we see delays on that section of the A1, currently the A66 is used from the A1(M) to cut across to the M6 and then up to Scotland, given that the much needed A66 dualling is likely to go ahead that route would become even more attractive, thus taking more traffic off the A1 north of Newcastle.

The A1 traffic volumes simply don’t warrant this improvement, the A64 scheme which is forever pushed back deals with a chronically congested section of road where many lives have been lost, a scheme like that should be taking the funding rather than the A1 scheme that isn’t required.

The issue is not so traffic volumes but what happens when there is an HGV breakdown or an incident. With no hard shoulder passing is very difficult. The queues can become very long and even getting a recovery vehicle to the scene can be a challenge.

If that's the problem then surely widening the existing road to WS2 would be sufficient. My recollection is that most or all of Morpeth to Felton is wider than standard S2 already, so I presume that widening to WS2 would be a whole lot cheaper than full dualling.

I agree with NICK 647063 that the A66 (Scotch Corner to Penrith) is a much higher priority than the Northumberland stretch of the A1 for improving East of England (by which I mean North East, Yorkshire, East Midlands) links with Scotland.

Much of the single carriageway north of Newcastle has flows of less than 14,000 AADT. If future-proofing was desirable to Westminster (ha ha) a comparatively cheap solution would be to make those sections WS2+1, which has a capacity of 25,000 (DMRB CD 109). Providing sufficient land was taken to enable dualling in future, that would be a problem nicely kicked a decade or two into the future. Which is surely what all politicians aspire to happen, making things someone else's problem.