Richmond MP Rishi Sunak has expressed his frustration about delays to the completion of works on the A1(M) upgrading scheme in North Yorkshire.
More than two months after the final section of the three-lane motorway section opened near Catterick, works are still continuing on the approach roads and roundabouts at the Scotch Corner and Catterick junctions.
Mr Sunak said: “I share the frustration of a number of constituents who have contacted me about works at the junctions which seem to be dragging on.
“The work of Highways England and the contractors in getting the main carriageway open has been much appreciated but two months on, local motorists are still encountering delays and endless cones on the approaches to the new junctions.”
Mr Sunak said he had written to Highways England asking for an update on the scheme’s progress and an explanation for the continuing delays.
The MP said he had been given an assurance that the works would be completed by the end of March. “Here we are, halfway through June and the Scotch Corner junction is still a morass of closed-off lanes, seemingly endless lines of cones and temporary signs,” he said.
“Constituents have suggested to me that not much work appears to be going on,” he added. “We know that bad weather contributed to delays earlier in the year but we have had very good weather of late but still the works are not finished.”
Mr Sunak said he was also seeking assurances from Highways England that replacement brown tourism signs for Richmond and Swaledale would be erected in time for the main tourism season.
Mr Sunak, working with the leaders of North Yorkshire County and Richmondshire District council, County Cllr Carl Les and Cllr Yvonne Peacock, secured the necessary permissions and the funding for the signs.
The longstanding signs for “Richmond – Georgian Market Town” had been removed during the upgrading works and Highways England initially suggested they would not be replaced.