New figures show the cost of a long-awaited project to dual a 13-mile section of the A1 between Morpeth and Ellingham in Northumberland had risen to £68.4 million before its cancellation was announced by the Labour government last year.

Despite repeated postponements under the previous government, the project’s expenses continued to grow, increasing from £67 million in 2023, according to data obtained by the BBC through a Freedom of Information request.

The Department for Transport defended the decision to cancel the scheme, citing financial constraints. A spokesperson told the BBC, “Given the challenging financial picture inherited, we have had to make difficult decisions about a number of roads as they were unfunded or unaffordable.”

Campaigners, however, have long argued that congestion on the A1 negatively impacts the region’s economy and have pushed for improvements for decades.

The report notes approximately 42 miles of the A1 in Northumberland remain single carriageway, and local campaigners continue to advocate for widening the road to alleviate traffic and boost economic growth.

(Picture – Mapillary)