WORKS on major road improvement scheme has been shut down following the latest escalation in measures to combat the Covid-19 pandemic.

Middlesbrough Borough Council, in consultation with scheme contractor AE Yates, has decided to shut down the A66/A171 Cargo Fleet Junction throughabout scheme until further notice.

The move follows the Prime Minister's announcement on Monday evening, and takes into account factors including increasing levels of sickness absence and suppliers starting to shut down their own operations.

Measures will be put in place to ensure the A66 and surrounding road network is safe for the travelling public until work can restart.

Existing temporary traffic management arrangements will remain in place, with two lanes maintained in each direction on the A66, and access to Cambridge Road and Works Road will be on a ‘left in, left out' basis only.

The section of A171 Cargo Fleet Lane between the A66 and South Bank Road will remain closed, with traffic diverted via South Bank Road, Middlesbrough Road and the A66.

A Middlesbrough Borough Council spokesman said: "The shutdown of the A66 throughabout site is the right thing to do given the current extraordinary circumstances.

"Traffic flows on the network are very low and are likely to remain so for the foreseeable future, so the impact of the shutdown on the delivery of essential services will be minimal."

"The temporary traffic management measures required to deliver the scheme - such as road signs and traffic cones - will be maintained throughout the shutdown period, so the safety of the travelling public will not be compromised in any way."