A NEW roundabout designed to improve safety and cut congestion at a busy junction has been officially opened.

The new £1.8 million roundabout near the Honest Lawyer, outside Durham was completed on time for last month's Durham Miners' Gala, but has now been officially declared open.

The new road system replaces the T-junction where the A167 meets the B6300 Browney Lane at Sunderland Bridge, which has been the scene of 12 accidents in the last five years.

Durham County Council says it hopes the changes will cut accidents and reduce peak-time congestion, while improving access to the nearby Meadowfield Industrial Estate.

The first phase of work, which was completed in December, saw 8,779 cubic metres of material used to build earth embankments on the east and west of the A167.

Due to the nature of the soft ground next to the river the material had to be left to stand for three months to allow for settlement before the roundabout could be built.

Cllr Neil Foster, cabinet member for economic regeneration, said: “Investing in the new roundabout means a safer and quicker journey for thousands of people every day.

“We’ve already received a lot of positive feedback about the project and we’d like to thank the public for their patience while we carried out this vital upgrade.”

An estimated 20,000 vehicles use the A167 every day and a further 5,000 use Browney Lane.