National Highways has said that it will invest £135M in improving roads across the North East and Yorkshire in the next 12 months, including eight major motorways and A roads.

The package of improvements to roads, pavements and bridges across the region comes as an effort to support the government’s agenda to level up transport across the country.

The major roads to benefit from the investment include the M1, A1(M), M62, M18, A1, A19, A63 and A69.

The improvements will include road resurfacing, bridge joint replacements, improved signage and drainage, renewal of barriers, renewal of traffic lights, and provision of facilities for pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders, reports New Civil Engineer.

Overall, the £135M will be spread over 300 maintenance and renewal schemes across the region, which covers more than 1,000km.

Schemes to be undertaken on A roads and motorways include:

• New facilities for pedestrians, cyclists and equestrians along the A616 at Underbank in South Yorkshire
• Resurfacing on the A63 between North Cave and South Cave in the East Riding of Yorkshire
• Renewal of traffic signals on the A64 at Rillington, Staxton and Sherburn in North Yorkshire
• Parapet replacement on the M62 between junction 24 and 25 in West Yorkshire
• Replacing safety barriers along the A66 between Little Burdon and Long Newton in County Durham
• Resurfacing of the A19 between Fisher Lane and Moor Farm in Tyne and Wear
• Resurfacing the A1 between Highfields and the Scottish border in Northumberland

National Highways regional director Simon Boyle said: “Hundreds of thousands of people rely on National Highways motorways and major A-roads daily for work journeys, home deliveries, the movement of goods and services or to travel to meet friends and family, so it’s essential that we keep them in a good condition to ensure safety and reliability.

“Here in Yorkshire and the North East our 670-mile network sits at the heart of the region’s infrastructure, from the motorways that span the region, to the city roads of Leeds and Newcastle, and rural single carriageways.

“Providing access to international gateways – from ports at Grimsby and Immingham and Tees and Hartlepool, to airports at Teesside and Leeds-Bradford – our road system supports business growth. It also brings tourism to our stunning natural, cultural and historic attractions.

“This investment means that we can continue our work to deliver the essential maintenance and vital upgrades that will help keep drivers on the move throughout the region, wherever their journey takes them.”