The UK Government has officially opened the enhanced A1 Leeming to Barton scheme following £400m upgrade works.

The project, opened by Transport Secretary Chris Grayling in Darlington, was carried out by Highways England and represents the sixth scheme to be completed under the £15bn road investment strategy.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said: “We are investing record amounts in improving our roads – giving motorists quicker and safer journeys to go to work, see family and friends, or go shopping.

“Highways England is making good progress in delivering new road schemes right across the country, providing improved connections and new opportunities for businesses.”

Nearly 70,000 motorists use this new stretch of dual carriageway in Darlington.

“We are investing record amounts in improving our roads – giving motorists quicker and safer journeys to go to work, see family and friends, or go shopping.”

This scheme is one section on the journey between Newcastle and London, which is currently being upgraded.

Grayling also announced an additional £173m investment to fund three major new road schemes in Leicestershire, Devon and East Riding.

This funding will be used to improve the North Devon Link Road, develop the Melton Mowbray Eastern Distributor Road and enhance Jock’s Lodge junction near Beverley.

The Melton Mowbray will be awarded £49.5m, while the Jock’s Lodge junction project will receive £40.8m to carry out the improvement works.

The remaining £83.1m of the funding is allocated to widen the North Devon Link Road to facilitate traffic movement and improving safety for motorists.

As well as reducing journey times for the motorists, the projects are also expected to create thousands of new jobs and homes.