A THREE-MONTH roadworks scheme is due to start on a stretch of the A1(M).

The £2.15m scheme, on the road between Bradbury and West Cornforth, in County Durham, starts on Monday.

The work will be carried out in several phases and is intended to renew and strengthen the carriageway to prolong its life and enable it to cope with increasing traffic.

The scheme will also allow environmental improvements to be made, including reducing the levels of noise from traffic. It will also use existing surfacing materials, which will be recycled.

The work, due to be completed by Sunday, August 17, will be carried out from just south of junction 60 to midway between junctions 60 and 61.

It will take place between 7pm and 7am each day, when there will be a contraflow or lane closures in operation.

During the daytime, both carriageways will be open, with a 50mph speed limit at all times.

Andrew Jennings, the project's manager for the Highways Agency, said: "There will be several times during the contract when the traffic management has to change to allow work on either carriageway to take place.

"We would ask all road users to approach this section with extra care and to take notice of the signs which will be in place."