Highways England has announced that a dual carriageway will be needed to alleviate traffic problems beyond the Hopgrove roundabout and that previously planned improvements to the roundabout would not solve the problem. Kevin Hollinrake MP, who has been campaigning for Highways England to reconsider its original plans to create a flyover at the Hopgrove roundabout in favour of the dual carriageway, says this is “fantastic news”. He said that he is in no doubt that a dual carriageway is the right solution, because doing otherwise would simply create another pinch-point further along the A64.
Mr Hollinrake has been working with MPs Robert Goodwill and Julian Sturdy, the A64 Growth Partnership, which includes businesses along the route together with the York, North Yorkshire and East Riding Local Enterprise Partnership, local authorities, councillors and the York and North Yorkshire Chamber, to significantly improve connections between York and the coast. This includes delivering dual carriageway between York and Malton and safety improvements, utilising the full allocation of up to £250m that Government included in the national road strategy for an A64 Hopgrove upgrade. He has also met with the Transport Secretary, Chris Grayling, and other transport ministers to make the case for more funding on a number of occasions.
Mr Goodwill stated, “I am delighted, this is exactly what we have been campaigning for. Even though this improvement is 30 miles away from Scarborough, it will be of huge benefit to the East Coast economy.”
Julian Rudd of the A64 Growth Partnership commented, “The Highways England report is very welcome news - but we have been at this stage before and we must ensure that this time the dual carriageway and other improvements are actually delivered. Local politicians, councils and businesses are united and we will not rest until the A64 is upgraded, including a dual carriageway between York and Malton. This will require a full commitment by Government to the provisional allocation of £250m.”
Highways England has revealed in its feasibility study that all the options under consideration will include a dual carriageway from York to Barton Hill. It will now conduct a more detailed examination into environmental issues, traffic data, side roads and cost before making a recommendation following a consultation period in 2018.
Mr Hollinrake added, “We hope this section will be delivered by 2023 but we also need a sequential approach to include a further section of dual carriageway, from Crambeck to Malton, and then specific improvements east of Malton such as the Rillington by-pass.”