A19 roadworks create three months of delays (From The Northern Echo)

A19 roadworks create three months of delays

11:40am Tuesday 9th February 2010 in

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MOTORISTS are adjusting to delays which are expected to effect two of the North-East's main roads for at least the next three months.

Commuter chaos has followed the start of work, yesterday, widening a key slip road from the A19 dual carriageway to enable it to cope with extra traffic.

The Highways Agency is carrying out the project expanding the southbound exit slip road from the A19, at the Herrington interchange with the A690 Durham to Sunderland dual carriageway.

It has seen the closure of the slip road, which provides access for southbound traffic heading to Doxford International Business Park, on the outskirts of Sunderland, potentially until May.

An estimated 16,000 vehicles which use the junction on a daily basis will have to take alternative routes, including a signed diversion of almost 12 miles.

Southbound traffic on the A19 can take the exit before the A690, the A183 at Hastings Hill, or continue southwards past the closed junction and leave at the Murton interchange, before rejoining the A19 heading northwards, to exit at the northbound slip road at A19/A690 junction.

Project manager Mandy Foster, of the Highways Agency, said: "In order to carry out the works as quickly and efficiently as possible, and for the safety of road workers and road users, it is necessary to close the southbound exit slip road at the A19/A690 Herrington interchange.

"Once complete, this scheme will alleviate the effect of the extra traffic associated with the development without increasing traffic delays on the A19."

She urged motorists affected by the work to curb speeds and look out for diversion signs.

A 50-miles per hour speed limit is in force on the southbound A19 for a mile south of the A690 flyover bridge.

The work is taking place so the junction can handle the expected upsurge in vehicles using it once the Rainton Bridge Business Park development, in nearby Houghton-le-Spring, is completed.