A £1BILLION scheme to dual the single-carriageway sections of the A66 could unwittingly reduce the number of large lorries coming through Barnard Castle but also create a new safety risk, it is claimed.
One proposal revealed by Highways England will see the junction at Rokeby Park changed so that traffic can only turn left to Scotch Corner.
The report says traffic wanting to head west on the A66 to Brough should use the Cross Lanes junction.
But HGVs will not be able to because of the weight restriction on the County Bridge.
This means that all HGVs wanting to access the A66 from Barnard Castle can only turn east.
It is feared they will have to either drive all the way to Scotch Corner and turn around or try a dangerous u-turn at a turn-off elsewhere on the A66. Those with local knowledge could attempt to use the narrow and winding Abbey Lane.
Phil Hunt, who has campaigned for years for a relief road around Barnard Castle, has described Highways England’s plans as “sloppy” .
Mr Hunt, who recently took part in an independent survey of HGVs passing through the town, said: “The majority were going south bound [to the A66]. I am fairly sure a lot of them would be going across Stainmore. If there was ban there I think local drivers will be looking to do a turn somewhere.”
He suggested HGV drivers may try to turn around at the Smallways junction, thereby causing a safety risk.
He added: “I don’t think this is a solution to Barnard Castle’s HGV problem. It would reduce the HGV traffic coming through, but it could have a negative impact on local businesses, in particular the quarries.
“They are not looking at the wider picture. Their focus is on the route they are planning, and they are not looking at the whole network of roads.
“I think there is a certain sloppiness in putting it [the consultation report] together.”
Mr Hunt was also concerned that Barnard Castle will be used as a diversion route when construction work starts on the A66, as it had been when improvements were made to the A1 at Scotch Corner.
He said the HGV Action Group is trying to get a meeting with Highways England to discuss the problem.
His concern is shared by county councillor Richard Bell who said: “The county councillors have already asked Durham County Council’s highways department to make clear to Highways England that these works must be done without closing the A66 and diverting traffic through the town, and we will be making that point directly during the consultation.”
He added: “I will be studying the options carefully. My concerns being that local people have safe and convenient access to the A66, and that any improvements do not increase the number of HGVs going through Barnard Castle in the long term.”
