TRAFFIC NEWS: Roadworks latest around Pallion junction as work on new Wear Crossing continues

Work will be ongoing in the Pallion Junction area until next spring, and the section of European Way between Pallion Junction and the entrance to Pallion Industrial Estate will now be shut in both directions through until mid-July to allow for construction work.

The existing signed diversion, via St Luke’s Road, will continue in place and vehicle and pedestrian access to facilities, such as local shops, Pallion Retail Park and Pallion Metro Station, will be maintained.

Shops and businesses in the area, including those at Pallion Retail Park, Pallion High Street, Pallion Quay and Pallion Industrial Estate will remain open as normal at all times

Traffic management will be in place, with lane closures at off-peak times in the immediate vicinity, as well as footpath closures around the area until next spring. Manually controlled traffic lights have been set up for weekends and bank holidays when local shops will be at their busiest.

The end result will be a four-way junction with traffic lights on the site of the current roundabout linking Woodbine Terrace, Pallion New Road, European Way and Pallion Subway, which will allow traffic to connect to the new bridge when it opens in the spring of 2018.

The new bridge will cross the River Wear between Wessington Way in Castletown and European Way in Pallion.

Coun Paul Watson, Leader of Sunderland City Council, said: "The foundation work for the new bridge is coming along very well in the river, but a key part of this project is linking the new bridge to Sunderland’s main road network so we really get to see the benefits it can bring in transport, economic and social terms in different parts of the city.

"As a local councillor for Pallion I understand that this is an important development for the area and I’d urge retailers, shoppers and commuters to allow a little bit of extra time for their journey while we do this essential work."

Stephen McCaffrey, Project Director for FVB joint venture, which has been appointed by Sunderland City Council to deliver the project, said: "The work is progressing well along European Way and we’ve slightly reconfigured our plans so that we can focus on this area over the next few weeks before working on other areas of the junction between now and the spring of 2017."