North Northumberland MP David Smith is pushing for practical A1 safety upgrades after the government scrapped plans to dual the road
North Northumberland: David Smith, the local MP, is on a mission. He recently met with the Minister for the Future of Roads, Lilian Greenwood. They talked about making the A1 safer, especially after the plans to dual it were scrapped.
Smith pointed out that the A1 hasn’t seen any safety upgrades in ten years. He’s really pushing for improvements as the government prepares its next Road Investment Strategy.
Back in October, the government decided not to go ahead with plans to dual 13 miles of the A1 north of Morpeth. They said it just wasn’t worth the money, estimating costs over £500 million.
Smith believes there’s a real chance to fix some dangerous junctions on the A1. He’s committed to bringing this issue up repeatedly in London. Many locals have told him that road safety is their top concern.
He’s clear about not making the same mistakes as before. He wants to avoid over-promising and under-delivering. Smith is all about sensible improvements that make sense financially.
He’s also optimistic about the government’s new national road safety strategy. It aligns perfectly with his goal of making the A1 safer.
Smith has had positive talks with National Highways and the Department for Transport. He’s hopeful that the government will support A1 safety improvements.
The government plans to announce funding from the Road Investment Strategy later this year. This follows a visit from Northumberland Labour leader, Coun Scott Dickinson, who also met Greenwood to discuss road repairs.
Coun Dickinson emphasized the need for funding to fix deteriorating roads and lasting pothole repairs. He believes this investment will protect residents and improve infrastructure.
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