Ministers have told Sir Alan Beith MP thata the A1 will formally be designated a route of national strategic importance very soon.
Transport ministers have told Sir Alan Beith that an announcement on the status of the road will be made very soon.
The Liberal Democrat MP, whose constituency includes the stretch of the A1 from just north of Morpeth to the Scottish border, said
"I met the Transport Minister yesterday and we discussed the dualling of the A1.
"Although progress will be difficult in the current financial situation, I am expecting an imminent announcement on the formal status of the road.
"Ministers have already told me in the House of Commons that they intend to treat the road as a national route of strategic importance rather than a regional route in future."
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