Scaled back improvements on route to coast under discussion

New proposals for a major upgrade of the A64 between York and Scarborough have been drawn up to tackle one of the region’s most notorious congestion blackspots.

But an ambitious bid to provide dual carriageways along the 35-mile stretch of road has been ditched amid predictions they would cost between £400m and £500m to introduce.

The revised scheme could instead see so-called “two-plus-one lanes” created, which would allow motorists to overtake slow-moving vehicles including lorries and tractors by introducing a single additional carriageway.

The plans could also see speed limits increased for heavy goods vehicles from 40mph to 50mph to ensure smoother traffic flows, without motorists attempting dangerous overtaking manoeuvres while stuck behind lorries.

The Tory MP for Scarborough and Whitby, Robert Goodwill, claimed the new plans had a realistic chance of being approved during this parliamentary term despite the savage public sector cuts which are being imposed.

Mr Goodwill claimed the improvements are vital to develop the Yorkshire coast’s multi-million pound tourism industry, as well as coping with major development earmarked for the area.

The tourism industry in Whitby alone is worth about £40m a year to the local economy, and provides an estimated 2,000 jobs – almost 30 per cent of the town’s overall workforce.

“The dualling of the whole stretch has long been talked about but it will unfortunately not become a reality,” he said.

“Hopes had continually been raised that this could happen by previous governments when the economy was booming and there was no issue with spending taxpayers’ cash.

“But now we have a viable plan B, and it shows we are being realistic. If you go to the Government with a realistic solution rather than a pipedream, there is a real chance of it happening.”

Mr Goodwill claimed Ministers could agree to the improvements due to the potential revenue generated by taxation on the spending by extra visitors to the coast.

The exact locations for “two-plus-one lanes” have yet to be finalised, although Mr Goodwill stressed the additional carriageways would have to be built on the longer and straighter stretches of the A64 away from towns and villages.

The need for the road improvements is also being heightened due to the scale of development proposed along the Yorkshire coast.

Scarborough and Whitby are seen as key locations to support the world’s largest offshore wind farm which is due to be built nearly 80 miles off the coast at Dogger Bank to generate up to 10 per cent of the nation’s electricity.

Plans are also being drawn up for a major potash mine centred on the North York Moors National Park, which would create up to 5,000 jobs.

Mr Goodwill confirmed he would be joining forces with other local MPs to petition the Government about the A64 improvement scheme.

He confirmed he is in regular contact with Roads Minister Mike Penning, who is responsible for the Highways Agency.

The Yorkshire Post revealed in July last year that the issue of a potential upgrade to the A64 was raised in the House of Commons.

The Tory MP for Thirsk and Malton, Anne McIntosh, tabled a question calling on a Government commitment to prioritise the A64 scheme to boost road safety and help the regeneration of Yorkshire’s coastal communities.

A joint study into upgrading the A64 has been undertaken by North Yorkshire County Council, York Council and the Highways Agency as well as Network Rail, Ryedale District Council and Scarborough Borough Council and was finalised in February.

The report is now being considered by officials at the Highways Agency before plans are due to be submitted to the Department for Transport.