A MAJOR phase of the largest Highways England road project currently under construction has been completed.

A new Catterick Central junction has been opened on the A1 Leeming to Barton scheme, the £380 million project upgrading 12 miles of the Great North Road to a three-lane motorway.

Drivers will now be able to access the A1 via the new junction without having to travel through Catterick and Brompton-on-Swale.

As part of the scheme a new local access road alongside the new motorway will be created, improving safety for local traffic from the surrounding communities.

Currently access to the A1 is via two junctions, Catterick North and Catterick South, which need to be altered as part of the whole scheme.

Catterick South junction will close at a later date with the bridge over the road being demolished. Catterick North will remain and will carry the new local access road across the A1.

Roads Minister Andrew Jones said: “As part of our long-term economic plan, we are investing a record £13 billion in transport infrastructure in the North, helping to create a Northern Powerhouse that can close the economic gap between north and south.

“The work on the A1 is an important part of this process and we are determined to keep the momentum going."

Highways England project manager Tom Howard said the completion of the junction was a major milestone for the project.

The junction has been opened before this weekend’s demolition of Fort Bridge, which carries the A6136.

“This demolition is a complex piece of engineering and requires the closure of the A1 for 34 hours,” said Mr Howard. “The plan is to demolish Catterick South bridge at a later date.”

Clearly signed diversions will be in place for the demolition of Fort Bridge and drivers are advised to allow an extra 30 minutes to their journey time.

The road will be closed from 8pm on November 14, until 6am on November 16, in both directions between junction 51 at Leeming Bar and Scotch Corner.