HIGHWAYS England is looking at ways to improve safety at the Ravensworth junction on the A66 following a fatal collision earlier this year.
A woman died and a man was serious injured in the collision between a car leaving New Lane and a HGV travelling along the A66 on March 22.
The A66 Action Group has called for urgent action to prevent more crashes.
It has since emerged that dualling of the Ravensworth section of the A66 is in the pipeline but it not expected to be completed before 2025.
Responding to questions about what was planned to improve road safety in the meantime, Highway’s England’s senior project manager, Matt Townsend, said: “Safety is our highest priority and we are committed to improving safety at this location.
“In August 2018 we carried out road patching work along this stretch of the A66 and refreshed sections of the road lining.
“A further refresh of lining in this area took place in April. We are also looking into options to increase visibility at the Ravensworth junction by removing the hedgerows.
“A temporary 50mph speed limit was introduced in October 2018 and we have just completed a survey looking at the rate of compliance within the area. The results of this survey will help determine what further measures can be undertaken and we will be working with the local authority and the police to pursue enforcement options.”
