I share my constituents' disappointment that vital upgrades to the A64 are set to be delayed. Constituents will know I have worked tirelessly on this issue since being elected, raising it in the House of Commons and with successive Transport Ministers and National Highways, to press for action. The recent survey commissioned by National Highways itself showed significant support for improvements to the A64, which makes this delay even more disappointing for local residents.
It must be stressed that this is not a case of our area losing out to another project, every single UK road project in RIS3 has been delayed. This project is still very much on the Government's agenda and we hope to get a decision in the next 12 months so National Highways can begin detailed costing and acquisition of land, with a planned start date of 2030. I will continue to fight for the upgrades to be prioritised going forward.
Read the full statement by the Transport Minister here.
