Consultation on major new link road opens

The public are being invited to share their thoughts on plans for a major new road.

The proposed link road would connect the A66 and A1(M) round the north of Darlington, which the Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) said would tackle congestion and support future housing and jobs.

The consultation is offering three options, with Conservative Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen saying no decisions had yet been made, including on whether the project would even go ahead.

The consultation runs until 25 September.

TCVA said the proposed route would aim to tackle high levels of freight traffic travelling through residential areas of Darlington as well as road safety and congestion.

Three principle ideas open for feedback include a "do minimum option" consisting of a single carriageway from the Little Burdon Roundabout, and an "even more ambitious option" with multiple routes to "improve resilience".

The "do minimum option" could remove more than 10,700 vehicles per day from residential roads, while making journeys two-and-a-half minutes faster during peak periods, the TCVA said.

Houchen said: "Darlington's road network plays a crucial role in connecting people to jobs, education and opportunities, but we know there are longstanding challenges that need to be addressed."

The consultation can be completed online and in-person events would be announced soon, the TCVA said.

The authority added: "All responses received during the consultation period will be independently analysed and carefully considered.

"Feedback will help inform decisions on whether a link road should be progressed and, if so, which route option should be taken forward for further design, assessment and development."

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