THE A64 dualling project is on the way for York, the transport secretary has pledged, but major works on the northern ring road will have to wait.

Conservative cabinet minister Chris Grayling was in York yesterday to meet party candidates and councillors. He said the Government was committed to dualling the A64 east of York, but that other much-needed improvements on the northern ring road were further down the queue.

“Right now we are preparing for the dualling of the A64, which has been a huge priority for this area.

“I am absolutely aware of the situation on the ring road, I think it needs to be dealt with, but my one message is you can’t do everything at once. If you fill an area with too many roadworks simultaneously you cause chaos.”

The A64 is “next in the pipeline”, he added, but his party would give more financial support to bypass improvements in the next Parliament.

The two Conservative candidates - Julian Sturdy fighting for re-election in York Outer, and Ed Young who is contesting York Central - would make sure York’s case is not forgotten, he added.

Mr Grayling also spoke of the promised “Northern Powerhouse” rail project to improve east-west connections in the North.

He said the project would create a “backbone” for the Northern Powerhouse, but he would not commit to funding the project before London’s Crossrail 2.

Andy Burnham and Steve Rotheram - newly elected metro mayors of Manchester and Liverpool - have called on the Government to commit to the northern investment before putting more money into the project for London and the South East.

Mr Grayling rejected that, and said the decision should be based on where investment was needed and would make a difference - not about demanding one project before another.

He said: “I don’t think it’s an ‘either or’. We are investing in transport in London at the moment and Crossrail 1 is soon to open.

“At the same time we are also supporting the investment across the North with new trains, big improvement in Transpennine route, the Transpennine electrification project that’s coming down the track, and Northern Powerhouse rail.” Conservatives are committed to the Northern Powerhouse rail, he said, and when building starts on HS2 transport investment - currently skewed towards the south-east - will be focused on the North. He added that transport improvements would happen across the country, and the North would get a “major share”.