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Motorists in Wearside look set to benefit from a £470,000 Government handout to stall rising levels of congestion.
But Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly said she would continue to look at controversial measures such as toll roads and support councils considering congestion-charging as a way to tackle increasing traffic.
Ms Kelly has announced 6billion to improve and make better use of England's motorways and key roads.
The cash will fund a variety of methods to get the most out of the existing road network, such as opening some motorway hard shoulders to traffic.
The 6billion package includes funding to upgrade 24 miles of A1 dual carriageway to three-lane motorway standard to provide the "missing link" between the M25 London orbital motorway and Tyne and Wear.
New funding has also been announced for the biggest towns and cities after it was recognised 80 per cent of the country's congestion is in urban areas.
Tyne and Wear, including Sunderland, is one of eight areas to benefit from the first phase of the 60billion "Urban Congestion Performance Fund."
Ms Kelly said: "I am determined to get the best from our road network so that motorists in the North East have reliable journey times on roads that are safe and well-managed.
"The greatest barrier to this is congestion.
She added: "It is frustrating and has serious consequences for the economy and the environment.
"To achieve this, we need a smarter programme of investment. The 6billion I'm announcing today will allow us to develop and implement more innovative approaches to the way we use our major roads."
"The majority of congestion is in our towns and cities, where the answer cannot be building new roads. That is why I will continue to support councils who want to investigate whether radical packages, which include public transport improvements combined with local congestion charging, would be the right solution for them."
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Weather for Sunderland
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Light sleet showers
Temperature: -1 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 1 C to 6 C
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