The government has given the go-ahead to the construction of a £10.5m link between the A1(M) and the A19 in Durham, designed to remove trucks from local roads.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport Gillian Merron says the 2.3km single carriageway will also provide an improved connection from the city to revitalise East Durham's economy: "The scheme will remove a substantial amount of heavy goods traffic from unsuitable local roads, improving safety and the environment in
residential areas such as Bowburn."
Brian Hewitt, from Durham-based Burn Haulage, describes the plan as "tremendous", adding: "At the moment there's only a single carriageway. The link road leading to the motorway at Bowburn is just a country lane. Reading between the lines I think [the new route] will be cutting through only a mile away from us."
Durham County Council plans to start works next month the link is due to be completed by the end of 2008.
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