Bridge roadworks at Castletown enter final phase

Key roadworks in Sunderland’s Castletown area will enter their final phase in July as work progresses on the New Wear Crossing.

Two major routes on the river’s northern side will be transformed to enable the next set of works to be carried out on the road network.

Works on A1231 Wessington Way will get underway on July 10 and last approximately three weeks, in one of the last phases to be delivered before the route is restored to two lanes in each direction this September.

Works on Timber Beach Road, the main route through Sunderland Enterprise Park, will also start soon, closing it for five nights from July 12.

The New Wear Crossing is due for completion by Spring 2018.

Once open, the bridge will link from the A1231 in Castletown, across the river to Pallion Junction and on towards the city centre.

The FVB Joint Venture, formed by builders Farrans Construction and Victor Buyck Steel Construction, is delivering the bridge and road improvements for Sunderland City Council.

Stephen McCaffrey, FVB project director, said: “I’m sure everyone will be pleased to hear that the end is in sight for our major contraflow system along Wessington Way.

“Before we get to that stage however, we do need to do some works in the centre of the carriageway which mean we will need to close off the right turn into and out of Castletown Way.”

He continued: “I’d just like to ask everyone to drive safely and continue to follow the speed limits and the signage to make sure that everyone stays safe and gets to where they need to go as quickly as possible.”

Sunderland City Council Leader Cllr Paul Watson commented: “Drivers who use these routes regularly will be used to the roadworks and the road network changing as the construction programme develops.

“We’re less than a year away now from the new bridge opening and the even better news is that some of these major roadworks are coming towards an end.”