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Rush-hour tailbacks as A19 work starts
Drivers hit rush-hour problems today as major roadworks began at one of Wearside's busiest junctions.
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The Highways Agency (HA) has closed the southbound sliproad from the A19 to the A690, which provides access to Doxford International Business Park.
The 16,000 vehicles which use it every day must now find alternative routes for the 13-week duration of a road-widening scheme.
The HA's specified diversion suggests drivers carry on to the Cold Hesledon interchange – take the Dalton Park shopping centre exit – go over the A19 and on to the sliproad to rejoin the northbound carriageway back to the A690 Doxford roundabout.
However, that means motorists must travel about an extra 12 miles just to get to their destination.
Few seemed to have taken the official diversion this morning, instead finding their own alternative diversions.
Some turned off the A19 at Chester Road or Seaton Lane, Seaham – adding to traffic which already uses those roads.
There will also be lane closures and a 50mph speed limit imposed on the A19 southbound from the A690 bridge for about one mile.
The road-widening work – requested by the HA – will enable Rainton Bridge Business Park to be completed, creating up to 6,000 jobs over the next seven years.
The sliproad will accommodate about 820 additional vehicles at peak times.
The cost of the road improvements is estimated at 1.5million, of which 400,000 has come from Sunderland Council. The remainder of the cost has been funded by English Partnerships, business park specialists Akeler, and companies which will be based at the new park.
The sliproad closure coincides with bridge maintenance work, which started last month on the A1231 Wessington Way, which will take another three months to complete. It involves work on the bridge carrying the A1231 over Grange Road, Castletown.
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Weather for Sunderland
Friday 10 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -3 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 1 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: South west
