Traffic levels on the A6136 through Colburn and Catterick Garrison are set to be reviewed following concerns the road may struggle to cope with future growth.
A meeting chaired by local MP Rishi Sunak brought together councillors, military representatives and highways officials to discuss increasing congestion linked to planned housing and commercial development.
It was agreed that North Yorkshire Council will carry out or commission a fresh survey of traffic flows to establish how busy the route currently is and how it is being used.
The findings will then be used to consider longer-term options, which could include a relief road or improvements to the existing route.
Mr Sunak said: “We all agreed that we need to ‘future-proof’ the communities’ road network given the problems they currently face at times right now and mindful of the further developments that are coming down the track.
“An up-to-date traffic survey is the right place to start and I am grateful to the local councillor, Kevin Foster, for raising this with me initially and the supportive attitude of the North Yorkshire Council team and its leader, Carl Les.”
Council leader Carl Les said: “Traffic on this road has been an issue for some time. The previous traffic survey done some 10 years ago showed that the majority of traffic was coming in to the centre for work or other activities, so it will be useful to confirm that, or not, with another survey before planning any mitigation.
“With the amount of housebuilding and other development being planned it may be possible to design in some relief measures, and of course we now have an elected Mayor and his office who were invited to this meeting, and they will have a part to play in any improvements.”
Colburn and Hipswell councillor Kevin Foster added: “It was positive to sit down with Rishi, the Garrison Commander, and the Leader of North Yorkshire Council to discuss the ongoing pressures on our local road network.
“A shared consensus was that congestion on the A6136 needs an agreed plan to go forward, and that work must now continue to deliver practical solutions for residents, businesses and the military community.”
The meeting was also attended by Catterick Garrison commander Charlie Anderson, who outlined expected changes to Army units based in the area in the coming years.
Short-term measures have already been introduced, including changes to traffic lights at Colburn Broadway, which councillors said had improved traffic flow.
Further options will be considered once the traffic survey has been completed.
Concerns were also raised about the reliability of bus services through the area, with Mr Sunak writing to operator Arriva for an update on plans to increase the frequency of the X26 and X27 routes.
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I think it would better if we could get a bypass from somewhere near the garrison to the A1 this would cut some of the traffic between colburn and the garrison
Unfortunately if the road from Catterick to Colburn is not modified sympathetically an urban environment will ensue. I would suggest an underpass be built under the fields from the roundabout coming out somewhere on the garrison and bypassing Colburn so the Army tanks and extra private vehicles do not impede the extra traffic which is expected in the coming years.