The preferred route for a dual carriageway for the A64 will be announced next summer after a six weeks consultation period starting in September 2018.
Our MP, Kevin Hollinrake has been keeping up the pressure on Highways England and speaking regularly to Ministers and the Secretary of State for Transport about extra funding for the A64 improvements. He was encouraged when Highways England announced that it is keeping to a tight timetable to ensure that all the processes are completed in time and that the work is on course to start in 2022. It is currently conducting a traffic model exercise to look at the levels of traffic at different times of the year, including bank holidays and holidays, so they can assess the cost benefit. Highways England has already met with a number of landowners and residents along the route to understand their main concerns and it is working with the A64 Strategic Partnership group to find out what economic benefits the improvements would bring. Once this work has been completed and all factors taken into consideration including the impact on houses, farms, woodlands and safety, there will be a consultation in the Autumn of this year. The options will be costed and a preferred route will be announced in the Summer of next year. A final decision will be made later in 2019 subject to the Department of Transport including the scheme in the next road investment period (2020-2025). Kevin has pledged to press ministers for the extra monies needed to complete the works and remains confident that work on the A64 carriageway (between Hopgrove and Barton Hill) will start in 2022.