Highways England today assured Rishi Sunak, my parliamentary colleague from Richmond and me that a study into the dangerous crossing points on the A19 will be completed as soon as possible and by June at the latest. The study was commissioned last year following a tragic accident which killed 83 year old Sonia Rose from Carlton Miniott, near Thirsk, when a van crossed from one carriageway to another through a gap and hit her car head-on. We have been pressing Highways England to close the gap near Osmotherley where Mrs Rose died, as soon as possible, and to review all the remaining gaps with a view to closure where feasible. We have also asked that the ends of crash barriers be updated as they were a contributory factor in the accident.
At the meeting where we were joined by Mrs Rose’s daughter, Katy and her brother, John, Highways England updated us on progress with the review and the safety improvements. We were told that the Stony Lane gap just south of the Cleveland Tontine where Mrs Rose died will be closed early in 2019 after completion of the necessary legal process; a plan to close the gap at nearby Mount Grace Priory and construct slip roads are in preparation with English Heritage – owners of the Priory – and would be in place prior to opening of an visitor centre at the site; barrier end improvements had been completed.
This was a terrible and tragic accident which must never happen again so I welcome the news that the study into what needs to be done to make the road safer for everyone will be completed by June and that the Stony Lane Gap will be closed early next year and I am pleased that improvements to the ineffective crash barrier ends which contributed to the accident are being updated.
We agreed there would be a further meeting to discuss the findings of the junctions review in July.