Leaders have agreed a huge package of vital transport projects to transform the Tees Valley as part of a funding boost totalling almost £1 billion.
Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen and Cabinet Members of the Tees Valley Combined Authority backed the vision in a unanimous vote at Friday morning’s Cabinet meeting (26 January).
The transport programme consists of 26 projects – including funding to bring the Transporter Bridge back into operation, and money to create a new Darlington relief road to ease traffic in the north of the town.
A new Teesside Park station and transport interchange at Tees Marshalling Yards, Thornaby, will receive a £150million boost.
The programme also includes vital road network improvements and overhauls on the A66 and A689 corridor.
Mayor Houchen said: “This plan will revolutionise travel across Teesside, Darlington, and Hartlepool. We’re determined to improve everyone’s day-to-day travel, but we also want to bolster our continued plan to make our region an economic powerhouse with access to good, well-paid, long-term jobs.
“Scrapping the pointless HS2 northern leg was a complete no brainer as it would have delivered no benefit to us whatsoever. The money released from that decision has given our plans the shot in the arm they need to come off the drawing board and into the real world.
“Now we have the backing we need, we can now get on with the hard work of putting this plan into action – and getting spades in the ground in as many of these projects as we can as soon as we possibly can.”
The package including road, rail and bus projects has also received independent endorsement from the Tees Valley Business Board.
Siobhan McArdle, Chair of the Tees Valley Business Board, said: “Transforming the Tees Valley transport network is crucial to the delivery of inclusive economic growth, and ensuring people have the best possible access to both the employment opportunities created and the education and skills programmes available to support them.
“This programme offers an ambitious range of schemes which will improve access and connectivity across our region and as the Business Board we look forward to working with TVCAs transport team as they scope, cost and prioritise these exciting programmes of work.”
List of Projects
· Darlington Northern Link Road – £250million
· Teesside Park station, work at Thornaby Station and Tees Marshalling Yards transport interchange – £150million
· Local Highway Authority improvement funding – £83million
· Investment in the Urban Traffic Management and Control Centre and digital technology to improve traffic and pedestrian flows and safety and create a landscape for autonomous vehicles – £60million
· A package to deliver A689 corridor improvements – £50million
· Package to deliver improvements to local journeys to access employment, education and health – £45million
· Deliver infrastructure to allow direct rail services between Darlington and Hartlepool – £40million
· Deliver a package of interventions to sort A66 capacity constraints on the Middlesbrough – Teesport – Redcar route, including at Greystones roundabout, widening the A1085 Trunk Road, and work on the Tees Dock Road/Lackenby access route – £40million
· South Bank railway station improvements and transport hub park and ride facility – £40million
· Deliver a new platform three for Middlesbrough Station at a faster pace – £40million
· Improving freight access to the rail network – gauge clearance work on Eaglescliffe to Northallerton line – £35million
· Work to improve roads, bridges and infrastructure on the Middlesbrough Council-owned stretch of the A66 north of the town – £20million
· Bringing the Transporter Bridge back into action – £30million
· Delivering a British Steel Lorry Park – £20million
· Deliver the redevelopment of Teesside International Airport railway station – £20million
· Delivery of 15 trackless autonomous electric trams in Tees Valley town centres – £20million
· Bus Station improvements for Middlesbrough – £15million
· More work on options for an A19 Tees Crossing – £15million
· A scheme with businesses to offer subsidised access to cars to access employment and education – £10million
· Contribution to deliver A19 junction improvements, Elwick bypass and Hartlepool Western Link – £5million
· Develop a rail devolution proposal to Government to gain more control and meaningful powers over services which run here – £5million
· Eastern Tees Crossing feasibility study – £1million
· Money to draw up a case for the electrification of the rail route between Northallerton and Saltburn – £3million
· Feasibility study to examine removing West Dyke Crossing, Redcar – £1million
· East Cleveland rail feasibility study for Saltburn to Boulby line to be opened to passengers – £1million
· Middlesbrough to Nunthorpe rail enhancement feasibility study for more services – £1million
Photo credit: Tees Valley Combined Authority
