Funds reallocated from the HS2 rail project have been given to local authorities to improve roads - including in County Durham and Darlington. 

The £8.3bn package, which has been allocated around the country by the Department for Transport will now be used by local authorities for maintenance and repairs including pothole repairs and resurfacing projects.

Local authorities have now published initial lists of the roads which are set to benefit from repairs and major links including the A67 and A68 have been named.

Following the announcement, Transport Secretary Mark Harper said: “We’re on the side of drivers, which is why this Government is getting on with delivering our plan to invest an additional £8.3 billion in the biggest ever funding increase for local road improvements, made possible by reallocated HS2 funding. 

“Alongside this unprecedented funding, which is already being used to improve local roads, we’re making sure local people can hold their local authority to account and see for themselves how the investment will be spent to improve local roads for years to come.” 

Here is a list of all the roads in County Durham and Darlington which are set to be maintained over the next year.

County Durham

Durham County Council have stated that the following roads will see repairs, but this list may change.

  • Chaytor Road, Bridgehill
  • Castledene Road, Bridgehill
  • Bail Hill Road, Hunderthwaite
  • Longclose Lane, Gilmonby
  • Skirlaw Bridge
  • Eastlea and Westlea Avenue, Bishop Auckland
  • Burnhill Way, Newton Aycliffe
  • C62 Quebec Street, Langley Park
  • Riding Road, Esh Winning
  • Moor Edge, Brandon
  • Rothbury Road, Newton Hall
  • Ryan Terrace, Wheatley Hill
  • Blackhills Road/Northumberland Street, Horden
  • A68 Tow Law to High Stoop
  • C74 Daddry Shield to Westgate
  • C21 Rookhope Village Bridge to Brook Cottages
  • B6310 Burnopfield
  • C4 Pelton Lane, Newfield
  • C132 Cut Throat Lane, Medomsley
  • A67 Darlington Boundary to Gainford
  • B6279 Moor Road, Staindrop
  • B6277 County Boundary to Harwood
  • B6301 Tow Law to East Headdleyhope
  • C11 Green Lane and New Acres Road, Quaking Houses
  • A181 Silent Bank to Thornley junction

Darlington

Darlington's maintenance on roads across the town will be carried out by the Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) and repairs range from micro asphalt to jet patching.

Here is the full list:

  • Alwyn Road
  • Banks Road
  • Barrett Road
  • Derby Street
  • Eldon Place
  • Eldon Street
  • Fulthorpe Grovr
  • Headingly Crescent
  • Holwick Road
  • Hopetown Lane
  • Hundens Lane
  • Judith Close
  • Kielder Drive
  • Marshall Street
  • Station Road
  • Strait Lane, Hurworth
  • Warwick Square
  • West Green, Heighington
  • Neasham Road - Middleton One Row to Neasham
  • Neasham Hill to Neasham
  • Sockburn Lane to Neasham
  • Lodge Lane to Brafferton
  • Brunton Street
  • Bisley Court
  • Blackwell Close
  • Blackwell Grove
  • Carmel Grove
  • Chepstow Court
  • Coombe Drive
  • Cannobie Close
  • Church Lane - Sadberge
  • Hundens Lane
  • Hundens Lane, West Bank
  • Hopetown Lane
  • Longfield Road
  • Mallory Court
  • Maxwell Close
  • Parkland Drive
  • Progress Way
  • Ramsey Walk
  • Roundhill Road
  • Station Road
  • Temperance Place
  • Westlands Road
  • Cleveland Terrace

Responding to the news Darlington's MP Peter Gibson, said: "I am delighted to see the additional funding flowing to Darlington for our Northern Link Road and the much needed repairs to our roads. 

"My pothole patrol across town has highlighted many roads needing attention, and whilst I welcome the works we've seen to Tornado Way, Victoria Road and Thompson Street East it's time that Darlington Borough Council picked up the pace and levelled up our potholes. Our community is crying out to hear from the council when each and every pothole will be actioned, and they could do a much better job letting folks know when their road would be done. I'm sad to say that communication from the council has been very patchy since last May - a bit like our roads."

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RAC head of policy Simon Williams added: “It’s very encouraging to see so many local authorities quickly setting out how they’ll use the first tranche of the Government’s reallocated HS2 funding to improve their roads.

“Drivers will be pleased to see potholes fixed and roads resurfaced, especially as our research shows the poor state of local carriageways is their number-one concern.

“We hope councils will also use this extra money to carry out vital surface dressing work which helps prevent cracking in the cold winter months by sealing roads against water ingress. The prime time for this life-extending work is between April and September, so time is of the essence.”