Plans for triple decker roundabout unveiled

Plans for a triple decker roundabout in North Tyneside have been unveiled by Highways England.

The government-owned company wants to upgrade the A19/A1058 Coast Road junction into a triple decker roundabout.

The £75 million scheme is on the main route to and from the Tyne Tunnel and will mean that people travelling along the A19 will no longer have to queue at the roundabout to go straight on. Instead drivers will be able to use a new section of road which will run under the existing junction.

According to Highways England, the improvements, which are part of the government’s five-year £15 billion roads investment programme, are designed to support opportunities and economic growth in the North East as part of the Northern Powerhouse initiative.

Ahead of the main construction work starting later in the summer, a two-day public exhibition will be held where people can find out more.

A computer generated video showing the new triple decker junction has also been released and is available to view here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUDWEfpC0C4&feature=youtu.be

Highways England project manager Julie Alexander said: “Once complete, this scheme will improve journey times on the A19 by reducing congestion and improving safety for the thousands of drivers that use this junction each day as well as cyclists and pedestrians.

“The A19 is a vital strategic link providing access to the Tyne Tunnel Trading Estate, Silverlink Retail Park, Cobalt Business Park and South East Northumberland. During construction we will do everything we can to keep disruption to a minimum and ensure that traffic does keep moving.

“I encourage anyone interested in finding out more about the work and how it may affect them to attend the public exhibition.”

The event will take place at the Village Hotel on Cobalt Business Park, West Allotment, Newcastle, NE27 0BY on Friday 1 July between 2pm and 8pm and on Saturday 2 July between 10am and 4pm.