PLANS for a £5.7m eastern transport corridor to cut congestion in Darlington has been approved.

At a planning meeting at Darlington Borough Council, councillors approved the scheme to build a major road linking Haughton Road with the A66.

The new route was devised to ease traffic on the current route through Haughton Village and Great Burdon.

It will incorporate two new roundabouts, two T junctions and a bridge for pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders. There will also be a pedestrian footpath, cycleway and bridleway.

It is hoped that construction will be completed at the end of December next year and the road will open in 2004.