THE first turf has been cut in a £7m scheme to upgrade a North-East road which has become an accident blackspot.

Work on a two-and-a-half mile stretch of the A689, between Sedgefield and Wynyard, County Durham, started yesterday.

Following the line of the existing single carriageway, the new road is expected to be open in spring 2003 and will complete the continuous dual carriageway between Sedgefield and the A19.

In the five years to December 1999, there were 23 injury accidents on the road, including one fatal and two serious.

Durham County Council leader, Councillor Ken Manton, cut the first turf with Jim Darlington, director of planning, environment and transport for the Government Office North-East.

Coun Manton said: "The scheme is part of our long-standing aim to improve the county's east-west routes and links to the A1(M) and A19.

"By upgrading what is now a sub-standard section of road, we hope to improve its poor accident record.

"We also hope to open up access, not only to the existing industrial estates and business parks in the centre and west of the county, but also to the new Netpark regional technology park being developed on the site of the former Winterton Hospital."

More than 13,000 vehicles a day use the existing road, and that figure is expected to rise to up to 15,000 when the new road is opened.