£110m A1 upgrade complete

10/11/2022 | DOMINIC BROWNE

National Highways has announced that its £110m A1 Scotswood to North Brunton improvement scheme is now complete.

The scheme was first announced as part of the works to the A1 Newcastle Western Bypass in the Road Investment Strategy for the 2015-2020 Road Period, published by the Department for Transport (DfT) in December 2014.

Construction took two and a half years and has seen an additional lane created in each direction between junctions 74 and 79, a distance of five miles.

Under delivery partner Costain and design partner Jacobs, 15 different contractors were used and more than 1,900 people worked on the project, two-thirds of whom were from the local area.

Nick Harris and Richard Holden at the opening ceremony

National Highways chief executive Nick Harris added: 'The scheme will provide economic benefits for business users and freight, with improved links between locations of economic importance, such as Team Valley Employment Zone, Metrocentre and Newcastle Airport.'

Speaking at an opening ceremony on 10 November roads minister Richard Holden said: 'Projects like this are key to unlocking growth across the regions of the UK, as well as making everyday journeys easier for thousands of people.

'It was great to hear about the local benefits first-hand today, as I visited the road ahead of next year’s road numbering centenary.'

Although the A1 was the first road to be designated in 1921, the definitive list of major roads was published on 1 April 1923, following consultations with local authorities.

The designations came after the Ministry of Transport was formed in 1919 and was given authority to classify highways and to allocate funding for road maintenance.

Each road was given a single letter, denoting the road's category, and a subsequent number of between one and four digits.??Important routes, such as those connecting large population centres became what we know today as A-roads.

National Highways is planning a range of activities to mark the centenary of Great Britain’s road numbering scheme to classify and identify all roads in the country.

A1 Scotswood to North Brunton scheme facts, figures and factors:

  • All of the traffic management has been removed from the project and the 60mph speed limit is now in force.
  • All three lanes on the five-mile stretch between junctions 74 (Scotswood) and 79 (North Brunton), which carries on average 110,000 vehicles a day, are now fully open.
  • A new concrete safety barrier has been installed, which will significantly reduce the risk of vehicles crossing over from one carriageway to another, improving safety.
  • The lighting has also been upgraded, as has the drainage system by using a sustainable drainage pond which filters rain that runs off the carriageway, making the water flowing into the river at Ouseburn cleaner and better for the environment.
  • Some 18,000 trees and shrubs have been planted along the scheme. 
  • Staff from National Highways, Costain, Jacobs and their sub-contractors dedicated 4,200 hours to volunteering on local community projects.

National Highways said carbon emissions were reduced on the scheme by more than 8,000 tonnes of CO2 through reusing materials wherever possible and using alternative construction methods such as:

  • reusing existing sign gantries
  • reducing the use of sheet piling by finding alternative solutions to creating retaining walls or barriers
  • using a sustainable urban drainage system to avoid alternative water treatment
  • substituting large diameter concrete drainage pipes with plastic
  • reusing around 41,000 tonnes of excavated and demolition material elsewhere on the project and on other schemes.

Highways InProfile

latest magazine issue
Highways jobs

Senior Transport Planner

£47,532 - £50,574
Royal Greenwich is a borough synonymous with first class modern services Greenwich, London (Greater)
Recruiter: Royal Borough of Greenwich

Technician - Highway Inspector

Grade 8 £28,797 - £30,708 per annum (Pay Award Pending)
Within the Highways Maintenance Team we are looking for an enthusiastic, customer focused and experienced person to join the Service Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Project Delivery Senior Team Leader

£74,480 - £85,964
Are you an experienced Chartered Civil Engineer (or equivalent professional qualification) Glasgow City
Recruiter: Transport Scotland

Assistant Traffic Management Technician - WMF2104e

£25,584 - £25,992
Westmorland and Furness Council is seeking an organised and enthusiastic individual to join our South Lakeland team Kendal, Cumbria
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Bulky Operative

£25,584.00 - £27,269.00, Grade 5, 37 hours, Permanent.
An opportunity exists in the Council’s Street Scene Services for a Bulky Operative Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Wakefield Council

Project Delivery Team Leader

£57,710 - £71,842
Are you an experienced Chartered Civil Engineer (or equivalent professional qualification). Glasgow City
Recruiter: Transport Scotland

Traffic Management Officer - WMF2102e

£37,035 - £37,938
This is a key role supporting the delivery a wide range of traffic and road safety schemes. Kendal, Cumbria
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Shared Service Manager (Waste) North Herts Council

£52000 - £61000 per annum
Shared Service Manager (Waste) North Herts CouncilNorth Herts CouncilPermanent, Full Time£52,866 - £61,866 per annum, plus car allowance (pay award pe England, Hertfordshire, Letchworth Garden City
Recruiter: Essex County Council

Street Scene Protection Officer - Braintree District Council

£30000 - £34000 per annum
Street Scene Protection Officer - Braintree District CouncilBraintree District CouncilPermanent, Full Time£30,313 to £34,612 per annumLocation
Recruiter: Essex County Council

Traffic Management Officer - WMF2102e

£37,035 - £37,938
This is a key role supporting the delivery a wide range of traffic and road safety schemes. Kendal, Cumbria
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Assistant Traffic Management Technician - WMF2104e

£25,584 - £25,992
This is a key support role, helping to deliver a wide range of traffic and road safety schemes across South Lakeland. Kendal, Cumbria
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Flood Risk Engineering and Strategy Officer

£49,764 - £55,623
In line with our One Coventry Values, we want to ensure that our communities are represented across our workforce Coventry, West Midlands
Recruiter: Coventry City Council

Senior Integrated Transport Officer

£34,324 - £37,529
Are you an experienced transport planning professional ready to influence strategic policy and drive real change Matlock, Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Roadworker Trainee LGV Driver (3 Posts)

Grade 6 £25,183 - £25,638 per annum (Pay award pending)
We’re looking for Roadworker/trainee LGV drivers to be part of our team undertaking major highway, bridge and related construction and reconstruction Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Engineer

£44,430 - £51,663
This post is within the Highways Design and Delivery Team. London (Greater)
Recruiter: Tower Hamlets London Borough Council

Civil Enforcement Officer - WMF3013e

£27,711 -£28,624
Are you seeking an active and challenging role, part of a friendly and welcoming team? Cumbria / Various
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Highways Maintenance Manager

£49,764 - £53,817 per annum
We are looking for an experienced co-ordinator to join the team as a Highways Maintenance Manager Skipton, North Yorkshire
Recruiter: North Yorkshire Council

UGO Bus Driver

Up to £25081.00 per annum
UGO Bus DriverPermanent, Part TimeUp to £25,081 per annum (full time equivalent)Location
Recruiter: Essex County Council

Head of Highways Operations

Salary
Somerset Council
Recruiter: Somerset Council

Works Technician

£37,399 (plus unsocial hours allowance)
The Works Technician is responsible for ensuring that the London Trams civils and off-track infrastructure Croydon (City/Town), London (Greater)
Recruiter: Transport for London
SUBSCRIBE NOW

Latest Video

Subscribe to Highways today to ensure you keep your finger on the pulse of everything happening in the UK road network throughout the year.

SUBSCRIBE NOW