The government has halted plans to dual the A1 in Northumberland, citing costs exceeding £500 million as a key factor in the decision.
Northumberland: So, the government just decided to scrap the plan to dual the A1, right? They figured it would cost over £500 million, which is a pretty hefty price tag. The Department for Transport said the costs were way higher than they initially thought.
Back in 2014, they estimated it would only be around £290 million. Crazy how things change! Glen Sanderson, the Conservative leader of Northumberland County Council, was pretty skeptical about those new figures. He said he didn’t recognize that number and wanted to see the full breakdown.
The project aimed to dual 13 miles of the A1 between Morpeth and Ellingham. And get this—over £68 million has already been spent on it, even though they hadn’t even started construction yet!
The previous Conservative government had given it the green light, but it raised eyebrows since it happened right before the General Election. Now, the new Labour government has called it “unfunded” and decided to pull the plug.
They say “value for money” means using public resources wisely, but it’s not just about local impact. They look at all sorts of factors, including costs and risks.
Coun Isabel Hunter, who represents a local ward, argued that safety was the main reason for wanting to dual the road. She’s not just thinking about saving time; she’s thinking about saving lives. It’s a lot of cash, but what’s the cost of a life, right?
She pointed out that while £500 million is a big deal, other projects like HS2 have cost way more. The A1 is a major route, and she feels something needs to be done about it.
It’s been a long time coming. Isabel’s dad used to say nothing would change on that road in his lifetime, and now she’s worried the same will happen to her. With the way things are going, she can’t see another government picking it back up.
For context, the costs for HS2 have ballooned to around £90 billion, and the Elizabeth Line in London cost £18 billion. Even the Northumberland Line saw its costs rise by £130 million!
Between January 2019 and January 2025, there were 184 crashes on the A1’s single-carriageway sections, with 42 serious accidents and eight fatalities. The government has promised other safety measures, but no details have been shared yet.
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