Darlington A68 Roundabouts Project Delayed Due to Funding Issues
Plans to enhance the A68 roundabouts in Darlington are stalled as funding remains unapproved, delaying vital improvements.
Darlington, UK, A68, Roundabouts, Traffic, Funding
Darlington: So, back in 2022, there were some big plans to fix up the A68 roundabouts at Cockerton and Woodland Road/Carmel Road North. The idea was to make traffic flow better and cut down on congestion.
The council was all about improving safety for pedestrians and getting more folks to walk or cycle around town. Sounds great, right?
But here we are, three years later, and nothing’s happened yet. The council still hasn’t got the cash to kick off the project. They even tried to get some funding from the Conservative government’s Levelling Up Fund this year, but that didn’t pan out.
These plans were supposed to help with traffic and make things smoother for everyone. A council spokesperson mentioned that they’re still committed to making it happen, but without funding, there’s no start date in sight.
They’re keeping the public in the loop, though, so that’s something. Meanwhile, some technical work is still going on while they wait for the green light.
They’ve even tweaked the designs based on local feedback, which is good to see. There are also talks about adding a pedestrian crossing near Cockerton Library and fixing up parking issues on West Auckland Road.
Interestingly, a family had to move out because they needed to tear down a house for the project, but that house is still standing. It’s a bit of a mess, really.
Experts have looked at the plans and say the new roundabouts are necessary for the area. They believe it’ll help with traffic in the long run without messing up the road network.