The UK Government has announced that the upgrade work on A19 has commenced six months ahead of the scheduled as it plans to accelerate transport projects.
The upgrade work, worth £51m ($66m), follows the development approval by the Secretary of State for Transport in July this year.
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The upgrade scheme will improve the journey times and also cut congestion for people using the Downhill Lane junction in Sunderland.
The improvement scheme will provide extra capacity on the junction between the A19 and the A1290 in Sunderland /South Tyneside.
It will support the regional economy and support plans for an International Advanced Manufacturing Park (IAMP) to the north of the existing Nissan plant.
The A19 upgrade project, led by Highways England, will include construction of a new bridge to the south of the existing (A1290) bridge across the A19.
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By GlobalDataAlong with the existing bridge, the new bridge will form a roundabout layout above the A19 and the new slip roads will link the A19 to the south.
UK Transport Minister Baroness Vere said: “I am delighted work has started early on this important road upgrade for the North East; it’s another example of our commitment to levelling up Northern transport infrastructure and to bringing projects forward where we can.
“It’s also the sort of accelerated works we want to achieve through NTAC in the future, to help us build back better and create.”
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The image shows what the Downhill Lane junction will look like after the upgrade. (Credit: Crown.)
