TWO major incidents on the A69 this week have heightened calls for road safety improvements.

The road was closed in both directions for six hours on Tuesday, after a crash near Hexham involving a tanker and three other vehicles led to a fuel spillage.

Police said one person was taken to hospital following the incident, on the eastbound carriage at Coastley, shortly after 7am. Officers said nobody was seriously injured.

In a separate incident at 2.20pm on Wednesday, a lorry overturned on the A69, east of the Bridge End roundabout at Hexham.

The Great North Air Ambulance was called to the scene, but was not required. The lorry driver was taken to hospital by road, with injuries less serious than at first thought.

The latest incidents on the A69 come in the same month that two women were killed in a four-car pile up at Melkridge, near Haltwhistle.

Members of Bardon Mill, Henshaw and Melkridge parish councils met last Wednesday, following the fatal accident on September 3.

Coun. Stuart Furlong said: “We have wanted improvements on the A69 for two years. It’s sad that it takes something like this to make things happen.

“We have to keep putting the pressure on – every time there is an incident on the road.”

At the meeting, councillors said reducing the existing 60mph speed limit, on the trunk road to 40mph between Bardon Mill and Haltwhistle, would make a huge difference.

They also called for the road layout to be examined, after raising concerns over the confusing mix of two and three lane stretches of carriageway.

A Highways England spokesman said: “We will continue to monitor safety and take action where appropriate, as well as taking into account the findings of the inquest into the incident on September 3, once it has concluded.”

Highways England said it carried out a review of the A69 last year, and has made some improvements near Bardon Mill and Melkridge.

These include new pedestrian crossing signs, additional speed camera warning signs, and double white lines to prevent overtaking.

The spokesman said a feasibility study over the safety of A69 junctions at Haydon Bridge and Haltwhistle was nearing completion.

In addition, calls for a flashing speed sign to slow motorists approaching Haydon Bridge’s east end junction, is being considered by highways chiefs.

The two incidents on the A69 this week led to long delays for motorists The overturned lorry east of Hexham’s Bridge End roundabout on Wednesday resulted in one lane of the eastbound carriageway being closed until after the rush-hour period.

But there was a complete closure of the eastbound carriageway from 6.30pm until 9pm to allow for the removal of the lorry.

Following Tuesday’s crash, the A69 was closed for six hours between the B6351 junction near Hexham, and the A686 junction at Haydon Bridge.

l Police are appealing for witnesses to a crash involving a tractor and a car on the A69 just after 7.30pm last Wednesday, near the Ovington junction.

Officers say no one was hurt, but the road was closed for a short time. Anyone with information should call 101 quoting reference number 1028 21/09/16.