Morpeth traffic nightmare eases

27/11/2007

The worst is over for drivers who have suffered delays as part of re-development work in Morpeth town centre.

Major works in Dark Lane was due to be completed today (November 27) More works at the junction of Manchester Street and Wellway / Dacre Street will start tomorrow (Wednesday, November 28) but will not be as disruptive.

Highways bosses from Northumberland County Council have been working with contractors Lumsden and Carroll during works to try to ease problems with traffic tailbacks.

The main works — to build a new car park entrance and roundabout at the bottom of Dacre Street and widen Dark Lane to include a cycle track — have been completed as part of the Dransfield redevelopment of Morpeth town centre.

The works have been completed on schedule. The County Council also resurfaced the highway to improve the look of Morpeth town centre and organised with Northumbrian Water for essential sewer works to be carried out at the same time to avoid disruption in the future.

Dick Fraser, Head of Highways Policy for Northumberland County Council, said: "There have been some long delays as part of this work and we thank drivers for their patience, but hopefully the worst is now over.

"Whenever there are essential road works, we always try to bring in utility companies to carry out any work they have planned. This saves motorists twice the amount of delays and stops the road having to be dug up again.

"Better coordination of all highway works will lead to less works at peak time, less duplication and less time lost to road works."

Morpeth herald - www.morpethherald.co.uk