MORE than 80 miles of roadworks are being removed from motorways and major roads across the region for this weekend, to help ease the Bank Holiday getaway rush.

Highways England will complete or suspend 24 repair jobs across the North-East and North Yorkshire, among 177 projects totalling 400 miles of roadworks across the country.

Schemes that will be finished before Friday (August 28) morning include:

  • Resurfacing of the A66 at Blackwell near Darlington, the A1(M) near Newton Aycliffe and the A1 at Coalhouse Interchange near Gateshead;
  • Road markings on the A66 between Scotch Corner and Greta Bridge;
  • Surveying on the A66 between Long Newton and Eaglescliffe and at Elton on Teesside, between junctions 49 and 50 of the A1/A1(M) in North Yorkshire;
  • Technological improvements to the A1(M) near Chester-le-Street, Bowburn and Bradbury, County Durham.

Resurfacing of the A66 near Bowes, County Durham and the A1 near Stannington, Northumberland will be paused.

Simon Sheldon-Wilson, director of customer operations at Highways England, said: “To help road users enjoy the Bank Holiday weekend, we’re completing or suspending over 400 miles of roadworks on motorways and major trunk roads.

“But we’re still asking people to play their part by planning their journeys and making use of the traffic information services we provide.”

Roadworks will be removed wherever possible by 6am on Friday (August 28).

In this region, four projects will remain ongoing: at the A66 Teesside Park slip roads, where there will be 30mph speed limits; A19/172 Tontine Interchange near Northallerton and the A1 junction 56 to 51 in North Yorkshire, where 50mph limits will be in place; and the A1 junction 67 to 71 through Gateshead, where there will be narrow lanes and overnight closures.

Milburngate Bridge, which carries the A690 over the River Wear in Durham City, will be reduced to two lanes and may be closed overnight into Saturday, as part of a £1m upgrade which is nearing completion.

The region’s roads are still expected to be busy this weekend as families enjoy the last weekend of the school holidays.

But the weather is not promising. Rain is forecast for Sunday and Monday, with Saturday looking the best day for outdoor activities.

For full details of the roadworks that will be finished, paused or continue during the weekend, visit highways.gov.uk