MULTI-MILLION pound road safety work on a stretch of road named "death mile" by locals will start this spring after a 20-year campaign.

A bridge will be built over the A66 dual carriageway at Long-newton, between Stockton and Darlington, to improve the road's appalling safety record.

The Highways Agency has appointed Interserve Project Services to carry out the £11.6m scheme.

Improvements will include a bridge and sliproads to carry local traffic, cyclists and pedestrians safely over the A66. Work will take place at the junction into the village nearest to Darlington.

There will also be a new link to Mill Lane, the main access to Durham Tees Valley Airport, and a link to the nearby village of Elton. Junctions at Longnewton and Elton will be closed for safety reasons.

Traffic will be stopped from turning right off the A66 from Darlington into Longnewton.

Motorists will also be banned from turning right out of Longnewton onto the A66 heading towards Stockton.

Campaigners have been pressing for safety improvements for years. There were 35 serious crashes on the A66 outside the village between 1987 and 1992. In 1985, seven people died in seven months.

In 2005, a coroner appealed to the Highways Agency for action after a pensioner was killed.

Retired plumber John Horton, 72, from Boosbeck, near Guisborough, east Cleveland, was hit at about 40mph as he tried to drive across two lanes of the road.

At an inquest into Mr Horton's death, Teesside coroner Michael Sheffield said he would write to the Highways Agency appealing for safety improvements.

Last night, Roads Minister Stephen Ladyman said: "This is a major step forward for this important road safety scheme. The A66 Longnewton junction has a poor safety record. The Highways Agency's scheme will help local road users with a safer route over the busy road and reduce delays for through-traffic using the A66."

Longnewton Parish Council chairman Dave Williams said: "It has taken over 20 years to get to this point. We are overjoyed.

"We would like to see it get under way and completed in the time-frame quoted. There will be a lot of rejoicing in the village when they see the first sod cut and work starting."

Hugh Lang, the managing director of Durham Tees Valley Airport, said: "The most important benefit of this scheme is that it will make things a lot safer for local people and everyone who uses the A66, including people travelling to and from the airport."

He also welcomed improved transport links to the airport.

Work on the project is expected to last until autumn next year.

l The A66 at Surtees Bridge, near Stockton, will be closed overnight from 7.30pm tomorrow to allow traffic to be switched to a new section. The bridge will reopen by 6.30am on Monday.

Traffic will then run in contraflow on the new section of the bridge.

Mobile speed cameras will continue to enforce the 30mph limit.

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