Safer junction for 'death mile'

The first phase of safety improvements on a stretch of County Durham road dubbed "death mile" are complete.

The government is spending £12m in a bid to reduce deaths on the A66 at Long Newton between Darlington and Stockton.

A new junction which allows motorists to cross the dual carriageway and join the A66 opened on Friday.

But drivers are being urged to take notice of the new layout on the road, which has seen 10 deaths and 200 casualties in the past 20 years.

Traffic management, including the 50mph speed limit, on the A66 and local roads will remain in place until summer.

When the work is completed it will cut out the need for right turns across the A66. There will also be a new link road to the village of Elton.

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