DRIVERS are being warned that major roadworks will start on the A66 in County Durham this Saturday (October 24).

Contractors for Highways England will be resurfacing 2.5 miles of the A66 from Cross Lanes to Hulands Quarry at Barnard Castle.

The work will be carried out in three phases under a 24-hour-a-day contraflow system, meaning traffic will travel in both directions on the same side of the carriageway so the road will not be completely closed to traffic.

Highways England project manager Derek Dobinson said: “When complete, this project will provide drivers with safer and smoother journeys along this stretch of the A66 in County Durham.

“Every effort is being made to ensure disruption to traffic and residents is kept to a minimum, and we’ll be using a contraflow system on the westbound or eastbound carriageway where possible to keep vehicles running in both directions on the dual carriageway.”

Phase one includes the closure of the eastbound carriageway from Cross Lanes junction to Hulands Quarry until Saturday, November 14, followed by a westbound closure.

The final phase of works will start on Monday, December 7 when drivers will be led through the roadworks in a convoy by a contractor’s vehicle between 8pm and 6am from the start of the dual carriageway to the crossover to the west of the Cross Lanes junction.

Cross Lanes junction will be affected for this week and clearly signed diversions will be in place.

The project is expected to be completed by Saturday, December 12 depending on the weather.