HIGHWAYS chiefs are hoping to keep delays on a stretch of the region's busiest road to a minimum by limiting repair work to night-time.

A £195,000 scheme to give a new lease of life to a 1km stretch of the A1 south of Catterick, in North Yorkshire, starts tomorrow evening and is expected to take about a week.

The resurfacing work is also aimed at reducing traffic noise.

The repair teams will be using a relatively new technique, which will allow them to recycle some of the old road surface. It is hoped this will reduce the drain on natural resources and the amount of bitumen needed.

Highways Agency project manager Shaun Columbine said: "We are carrying out this work at night to ensure minimum disruption to motorists, particularly during the morning and evening peak times.

"When the work is completed, both drivers and local residents will benefit from a smoother, quieter road surface."

Lane closures and contra-flows will be introduced from 7pm tomorrow, with the cones back in place at the same time every weekday evening.

Contractors will be on site from 9pm on Friday to 8am on Saturday, from 7pm on Saturday to 9am on Sunday, and from 9pm on Sunday to 7am on Monday.

Short diversion routes will be also indicated for traffic joining the A1 southbound at Catterick at night or from Leases Lane during the day, when the central reservation gaps will be closed.