DARLINGTON NORTHERN LINK ROAD FAQS A list of potential Frequently Asked Questions associated with the scheme is provided below. Why is the Darlington Northern Link Road (DNLR) needed? Due to the lack of north facing slip roads at Junction 57 of the A1(M), the local roads ,A167 and A1150, are used by traffic travelling from the A66 to/from the north via the A1(M) and are the signed routes. These local roads, with traffic calming features and pedestrian refuges, are not suitable for high levels of traffic, which includes significant numbers of heavy goods vehicles (HGVs). The use of the A167 and A1150 by strategic traffic causes stress on the local road network in Darlington, negatively impacts residents along these routes and is considered a constraint on development across the Tees Valley. Current issues: ■ Local roads are unsuitable for the high levels of traffic and high volumes of HGVs ■ Traffic flows on the A167/A1150 have higher proportion of HGVs than the A66 south of Darlington. Based on 2016 data there were 7.1% HGVs on the A167/A1150 compared to 4.8% HGVs on A66 south. That is approximately 1.500 HGVs per day on the A167/A1150. ■ High volume of traffic on local roads A167/A1150 negatively impacts residents on these routes. ■ The high levels of traffic using the A167/A1150 creates safety issues with pedestrians; with schools and local amenities in the vicinity. ■ Traffic congestion leads to unreliable journey times. ■ Delays in peaks periods set to increase if nothing done. By 2043, peak period delay will double. What is the Darlington Northern Link Road? The Darlington Northern Link Road (DNLR) is a proposed new road between the A66/A1150 Little Burdon junction and A1(M) Junction 59. It will link the Tees Valley with the A1(M) and beyond. We propose a single carriageway road starting from an enlarged, signalised, roundabout at Little Burdon and extending north approximately 7.5km, passing to the north east of Barmpton and Brafferton, before forming a new junction arrangement with the A1(M) Junction 59. The route is based on the ‘Route A’ preferred option announced in 2017 but has been revised in several locations in response to feedback from the public and due to technical considerations. In 2017 a direct connection into A1 (M) Junction 59 was shown. This has now been discounted following outputs from the latest traffic modelling which showed that the traffic levels in the future will create congestion resulting in safety issues on the A1. There are now 3 options being considered for the northern connection. All 3 options have the same proposed single carriageway alignment, developed from Route A, starting from Little Burdon and extending north before forming a new junction arrangement with the A1(M) Junction 59. Detail of the route can be viewed in the online exhibition room. What are the benefits of the Darlington Northern Link Road? ■ Improve the environment for residents along the A167/A1150 as a result of the reduced traffic volumes ■ Improve safety on the local road network ■ Improve journey time reliability ■ Reduced traffic levels and number of HGV on the A167/A1150 ■ Improve journey times for those using the new Darlington Northern Link Road and the existing A1150/A167 ■ Improve the resilience of the road network and reduce the impact of events such as roadworks and road traffic accidents ■ Provide an alternative route for all traffic and HGVs rather than using the locals roads through Darlington to join the A1(M) ■ Connect Tees Valley to the A1(M) and beyond. This will support economic growth for the region by improving access to Teesport and Teesside International Airport together with making the Tees Valley more attractive to investors and visitors. ■ Darlington Northern Link Road will provide strategic road infrastructure to support economic growth and job creation for our area. What is the journey time saving? The 3 options will provide around 130,000 to 250,000 hours of delay saved per year. The assessment work is ongoing and will conclude early 2021. Is the new link road to facilitate house building in Darlington? Darlington Borough Council are in the process of developing their Local Plan 2016-2036 that includes identifying strategic development locations as part of their growth agenda to deliver in the order of 10,000 dwellings and 6,000 new jobs. The Darlington Local Plan housing development sites require to be able to be developed if the Darlington Northern Link Road is not built. Why is a new link road being considered instead of changes to the existing A689 or A66 road network? We have been developing and refining our plans since work started on the Darlington Northern Link Road scheme in 2015. This considered high level options on the A66 corridor and the A689. In 2015/2016 a A689/A66 East West Study was commissioned by Highways England with Tees Valley Combined Authority to identify opportunities to improve links between the Tees Valley and the wider road network. Seven locations were identified along the two road corridors (A66 and A689). The A66 was considered the most beneficial corridor; in terms of improving links to and between Tees Valley and the wider road network. Further work funded by Tees Valley Combined Authority confirmed Darlington Northern Link Road should be progressed ahead of improvements to the existing A66. The keys reasons for not progressing with changing the existing A66 were: ■ The A1150/A167 would still be the more desirable route between the A1(M) North and Tees Valley. ■ The existing A66 Darlington Bypass would require significant changes from the existing single carriageway and existing junction arrangements. Why are there not changes being made to the existing A1(M) Junction 57 rather than a new link road? A series of studies have been undertaken to develop options for East–West road improvements across the region and an option to improve connections at A1(M) Junction 57 was considered. The work undertaken identified that there were several reasons why changes at Junction 57 has not been progressed further: ■ The introduction of north facing slips is very technically challenging and would not be practical as the A66 (M) would also require considerable alteration which would be uneconomic. ■ The existing A66 Darlington Bypass would require significant improvement from the existing single carriageway and existing junction arrangements. ■ The A1150/A167 would still be the more desirable route between the A1(M) North and Tees Valley. Why is a new link road being considered rather than changes to an existing local road network? Existing local roads (A167A1150) speed limits are 40 - 30mph with pedestrian crossing points and are lined with existing residential properties. Any proposals to increase traffic on those roads would have a negative impact to those residents in terms of noise, air quality and safe crossing points. The Darlington Northern Link Road is proposed in order to reduce traffic and the number of HGVs currently using these local roads. The new road would have a 60mph speed limit between the northern connection and Little Burdon junction which would reduce journey times. This new Darlington Northern Link Road would be more attractive to traffic travelling to/from Teesport and the Tees Valley region than local 30mph roads with school crossing points and additional junctions. Is Route A from the 2017 Public Information Event still the preferred option? Darlington Northern Link Road remains a scheme in its early stages of concept development. Two alignments were developed in 2017 and named Route A & Route B for the purposes of the public information events. Work undertaken led to TVCA identifying Route A being the preferable route in a report to TVCA Cabinet on 21st December 2017. Links to the TVCA Cabinet papers are provided below. https://teesvalley-ca.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/11Annex-one-Ringroads-2.pdf https://teesvalley-ca.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/10Transport-report.pdf There has been further work undertaken since 2018 to develop an alternative version of Route A. This current phase of work to develop a business case is revisiting technical aspects of the design including the environmental assessment. Will the previously identified Route B option be considered further? No. Route A was confirmed as the preferred route in December 2017. Subsequent work undertaken has led to the development Route A with 3 alternative northern connection options. What is the current preferred option? This stage of work will conclude with the submission of an Outline Business Case to Government in early 2021. Route A was confirmed as the preferred route in December 2017 and subsequent work undertaken has led to the development Route A with 3 alternative northern connection options. This current phase of work to develop a business case is revisiting technical aspects of the design including the environmental assessment. Please see the link to our website outlining the latest information on the proposed scheme www.teesvalley-ca.gov.uk/consultations We made comments on the previous Route A, have any changes been made in developing the new options? Route A was confirmed as the preferred route in December 2017. Subsequent work undertaken has led to the development Route A with 3 alternative northern connection options. Changes to the proposal include reducing the scheme from dual carriageway to single carriageway, moving the alignment further from away from the village of Brafferton and changing the connection into A1(M) Junction 59. This current phase of work to develop a business case is revisiting technical aspects of the design including environmental assessment. Why has the connection into Junction 59 changed? In 2017 a direct connection into A1 (M) Junction 59 was shown.