North Yorkshire, UK – The A19, a major route running from York through key towns including Thirsk, Northallerton, and Selby to Teesside, has been voted the country’s best A road in a recent survey conducted by Transport Focus. This recognition comes as part of the Strategic Road Users Survey, which gathered feedback from 9,000 road users on major roads managed by National Highways.
The A19 achieved an impressive overall satisfaction rating of 85%, a significant improvement from last year’s score of 77%. Survey respondents praised the road for its “clear surface, decent quality, and good markings.”
Rob Exelby, who operates Exeby Services near Thirsk, attributes the A19’s popularity to the iconic towns and cities along its route. His family business serves around 2,000 customers daily, benefiting from the road’s traffic. However, he noted that while there are frequent accidents and traffic queues, they are generally managed promptly.
Top 10 Motorways and Major A Roads:
- A19 (Doncaster to Seaton Burn)
- M40 (London to Oxford)
- M4 (London to South Wales)
- M5 (Birmingham to Exeter)
- A1(M) (Sections between London and Edinburgh)
- A38 (Bodmin to Mansfield)
- A46 (Bath to Cleethorpes)
- M56 (Manchester to Dunkirk, Cheshire)
- A30 (London to Land’s End)
- M3 (Sunbury-on-Thames to Chilworth)
Mixed Reactions to the A19
Will Yarrow, owner of Yorkshire Haulage, expressed surprise at the A19’s top ranking, describing the route as “manic” with heavy traffic. Despite the congestion, he acknowledged it as a reality drivers have learned to accept.
York Civic Trust highlighted the A19’s historical significance, connecting Newcastle, York, and Doncaster, all of which have Roman origins. A spokesperson noted that while the A19 is a younger road compared to the parallel A1, its status as the “other” north road may contribute to its charm, with many drivers perceiving it as less congested.
Bottlenecks do occur at York and Selby, the only urban areas along the A19. The Civic Trust underscored the need for York to dual its outer ring road to alleviate traffic through the city center.
Focus on Maintenance Over Expansion
Alex Robertson, chief executive of Transport Focus, commented on the survey’s findings, emphasizing that maintaining existing roads is more important to users than building new ones. He urged National Highways to prioritize safe and smooth journeys, especially as perceptions of road surface quality have declined since 2022.