Sir, – The recent road improvement announcements are just a rehash of old plans.

I am all for the A1 from Newcastle to Scotland being made into a dual carriageway entirely. However isn't the A68 from Darlington to Edinburgh much shorter?

Why is the A1 the main route to Edinburgh on the East Coast? Would it not be better for Newcastle and traffic in Newcastle if motorists from Scotland were encouraged to take the shorter route by making the A68 a dual carriageway? When I worked at the Holyrood Parliament I always took the A68.

NIGEL F BODDY

Fife Road, Darlington.