Change of plan to weekend roadworks at Testo's as progress continues on A19 flyover

Highways England is constructing a flyover on the A19, which means traffic on the route will be able to continue without the need to negotiate the roundabout, with new sliproads to connect it up to the A184 Newcastle Road towards Gateshead and Boldon.

While a full closure will still take place tonight, Friday, December 4, from 8pm, on the northbound A19 from North Hylton to Testo’s, the A184 westbound Testo’s to West Pastures, and the north and south sides of Testo’s roundabout, it now says it will remove the full closure at 6am tomorrow.

It will be replaced with a lane closure, which will allow A19 traffic to head north to South Shields and beyond or west along the A184 to Gateshead.

The north and south side of Testo’s roundabout will be closed until 6am on Monday, however if work finishes sooner the section will be reopened early.

Further restrictions are planned for next weekend, with the project scheduled for completion next summer.

It will see the westbound A184 White Mare Pool to Testo’s closed, along with the northbound Testo’s to Boldon.

The £124.5 million upgrade project is being overseen by Highways England project manager Liam Quirk, who said: “We’re making good progress and this weekend we’re starting the final stages of laying the new road surface on the south west corner of the roundabout.

"The following weekend we are aiming to complete the connection from the north side of the roundabout onto the new slip roads.

“We appreciate that drivers will be using the roads in the run-up to Christmas and we aim to cause as little disruption as possible.

"We are trying to complete the work as early as we can for road users, who have been patient throughout the scheme.”

The bridge structure weighs in at 1,393 tonnes and is constructed from 25-paired girders, the largest measuring 33 metres in length, while the heaviest pair weighs around 60 tonnes.

More information on the project can be found on Twitter via @highwaysNEAST or visit highwaysengland.co.uk/our-work/yorkshire-and-north-east/a19-testo-s-junction/.

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