Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking with (a) Highways England and (b) Tees Valley Combined Authority to construct a north link road for Darlington.

Proposals for a link road between the A66 and Junction 59 of the A1(M) were originally developed by Tees Valley Combined Authority. National Highways has applied feasibility assessments to the proposals and more recently, its Route Strategies process has considered the current pressures and future needs of the strategic road network in the Tees Valley area and specific issues facing the A1(M) and A66 around Darlington. This work in addition to TVCA’s proposals will inform investment priorities for the strategic road network as part of future road investment strategies.