Partner Article

Multi-million pound Testos upgrades welcomed by business group

North East businesses have welcomed the announcement of the preferred route for the upgrade to the A19 Testos roundabout.

The multi-million pound works will include a flyover to take the A19 over the roundabout, with slip roads and a connector road to take traffic to and from the North at Downhill Lane Junction.

The scheme is yet to be approved for construction although work could start in 2016. This announcement allows the land in the vicinity of the scheme to be protected from development.

Work could begin by 2016/17 if approval is granted by the Planning Inspectorate. Further public consultation will now take place to help shape the design of the new route in more detail.

NECC policy and research manager, Mark Stephenson, said: “This is another step in the right direction towards addressing the major infrastructure challenges our region must overcome if we are to meet our true economic potential.

“It is now up to the Government to deliver this £100 million project as quickly as possible - hopefully without excessive interruptions to the local economy.

“After dire levels of infrastructure investment, the North East has secured more projects in 18 months than in the previous decade. The region will be linked to the capital via a motorway, traffic pinch points on the A1 Western Bypass and A19 are to be addressed and a feasibility study into the dualling of the A1 north of Newcastle is underway, but we’re not at the finish line – there is still a great deal more to do.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .