Delayed 20km section of Northumberland A1 upgrade secures DCO

Transport Secretary Mark Harper has given the go ahead for the delayed 20km project to upgrade the A1 between Morpeth and Ellingham north of Newcastle. The project, which will remove a major bottle neck south of the Scottish border, was awarded to Costain almost three years ago.

Harper acted in line with the Planning Inspectorate’s recommendation in granting a development consent order for the major dualling project. Costain secured the contract in the summer of 2021. At the time, work was scheduled to begin in 2022 with completion by early 2025.

The Planning Inspectorate made recommendations to previous Transport Secretary Grant Shapps a few months after the contract was awarded, but it has taken until now for the government to make the decision to confirm the recommendation.

The project is one the Network North schemes the government identified as benefitting from funding following it decision last Autumn to scrap the northern leg of HS2.

No onsite start date has been announced.

The project will see a new dual carriageway built to bypass the existing single-lane A1 between Priest’s Bridge and Burgham Park, which will become a local road.

Meanwhile, the remainder of the route between Ellingham and Morpeth will be upgraded with the addition of an extra running lane in each direction.

Costain will also build four compact grade-separated junctions at Highlaws, Fenrother, West Moor and Charlton Mires to provide safe access to the A1 and maintain links to the local road network.

The scheme will feature new bridges over the River Coquet and at Heckley Fence.

Costain is currently working on two other A1 upgrades in the region: from Birtley to Coal House; and Scotswood to North Brunton.

National Highways said the schemes were needed to improve resilience, cut journey times and boost safety.