A NUMBER of major transport improvement schemes across the Tees Valley moved a step closer to becoming reality yesterday as they were confirmed as part of 30-year transport plan for the North.

Plans to build a new River Tees crossing to ease congestion on the A19, a Darlington bypass linking the A66 to the A1(M) and extra lanes added to sections of the A66 were revealed by the Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) last year.

It has now been confirmed that those plans form part of Transport for North's Strategic Transport Plan, which was unveiled at Darlington's Bank Top Station and Business Central yesterday.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said the progress made with the plans shows the region has a "very strong" voice.

"We have set our own priorities locally of what we want to see and Transport of the North have then adopted our plans.

"This gives us an even louder voice when going to Government to say we need funding, need assistance, and our schemes need prioritising when it comes to the Department of Transport investing in road and rail network schemes."

Mr Houchen also said the launch of the plan in Darlington helped to show the region's importance.

"There are lots of events being held, but the main one is being held in Darlington, which shows the significance that Darlington and the Tees Valley has in the wider North-East and the Northern plan for transport.

"We are going to have a 30-year plan, we are going to submit that plan to the Government to say this is our ask, and it means £150 per person in the North to go towards transport in the North.

"That means we can get a new Tees Crossing, our priorities around the Darlington bypass, Darlington Station, but it also means connecting the east coast with the west coast, making our ports better connected, dualling the A66 across to Cumbria, Northern Powerhouse rail and a potential bypass to the M62, so there are huge opportunities."

Bill Dixon, leader of Darlington Borough Council, said the latest progress was the "best way to celebrate my 65th birthday."

"It marks the end of the beginning of the plan to upgrade Darlington station.

"When we set off two or three years ago, people didn't think we had a chance of doing it.

"This station is now set to achieve a massive injection of much needed cash to upgrade and improve transport links north, south, east and west.

"People will see improvements straight away - there will be eight trains across the Tees Valley an hour rather than four and importantly we will be HS2 ready.

"If I had my way work would start tomorrow, but we are pushing for it to be started and finished in time for 2025."

In December, The TVCA decided its preferred bypass option is to link the A66 Great Burdon roundabout with the A1 Newton Aycliffe junction.