A 12-mile section of the A1 will be closed for two nights as part of a major project to upgrade the dual carriageway to a three-lane motorway.

Motorists have been warned that while clearly signed diversions will be in place, the closure will lead to journey times being extended by 30 minutes.

Highways England contractors will install permanent steel bridge beams on the bridge which carries Low Street over the A1, near Scotch Corner, this weekend leading to the road being closed from Leeming Bar to Scotch Corner.

Both carriageways of the road will be closed between 8pm and 8am, on Friday, (December 11) and Saturday (December 12) and from 8pm on Saturday and 10am on Sunday.

Highways England assistant project manager Charlotte Wright said it was vital to install the steel bridge beams to enable further work to take place on the £380 million scheme to create a continuous motorway-standard route between London and Newcastle.

She added: "We will be using new large cranes to lift the beams into place so need to close the road to do this safely.

“We will be carrying out the work overnight when the road is at its quietest, and are encouraging people to plan their journeys, using the many alternative routes that will be signposted off the A1 closure, as well as to leave extra time to complete their journeys.”