MPs Rishi Sunak and Kevin Hollinrake lobby highways chiefs over safety on North Yorkshire's A19 after death of pensioner

Richmond MP Mr Sunak and Kevin Hollinrake are pressing Highways England for junction improvements to the A19 dual carriageway between Thirsk and Teesside.

The road, which has three times more central reservation gaps than a typical dual carriageway, carries 32,000 vehicles a day.

In 2016, 83-year-old Mrs Sonia Rose, of Carlton Miniott, near Thirsk, was killed at Stony Lane near Osmotherly when a vehicle strayed across the gap and crashed head-on into her car.

A gap in the central reservation near the accident site has already been closed and Highways England will soon finish improvements near the historic Mount Grace Priory which will close the gap and introduce acceleration and deceleration lanes.

The two MPs recently held a virtual meeting with officials at Highways England to review progress on the programme of improvements designed to reduce the number of accidents caused by the many access junctions and gaps in the central reservation.

Highways England says it is making "good progress" on the plans and "look forward to continuing our positive dialogue about this important route”.

The agency is drawing up detailed proposals for each junction and the potential safety improvements will range from further gap closures to better signing and road markings.

Any proposal for an individual junction will be subject to discussion with local residents, farms and businesses who may use the gaps in the central reservation.

Mr Hollinrake said he and Mr Sunak would continue to keep up the pressure on highways chiefs to complete the works as soon as possible.

He said: “I am pleased that following our meeting that Highways England remain committed to the programme of works and allocating the funding to complete it.

“While this work will necessarily be done over a number of years, its completion will be a fitting memorial to Mrs Rose whose family have been so steadfast in their efforts to help us secure the improvements which will save lives in the future.”

Mr Sunak said: “I welcome the imminent completion of the works at Mount Grace Priory which will make visiting this tourist attraction much safer.

“The programme of improvements Highways England has committed to will make a long-term difference to this road which is a vital regional artery and yet has so many potentially dangerous access points.

“Due regard will be given to the needs of local residents and farms but what has been achieved at Stony Lane is an example of what can be done to improve safety while maintaining appropriate access.”

Richard Marshall, Highways England Regional Director (Yorkshire and North East) said: “Safety is our top priority and we are happy to continue our work to introduce safer journeys on the A19.

"The completion of improvement work at Mount Grace Priory will help protect drivers visiting this iconic tourist attraction.

“Working in conjunction with Kevin Hollinrake, Rishi Sunak and local communities we have made good progress and we are grateful for their feedback. We look forward to continuing our positive dialogue about this important route.”