Lanes opened up to traffic as work progresses at Testo's Roundabout upgrade

Motorists heading for the A19 interchange at Boldon from the direction of White Mare Pool had been moved into one lane as the Highways England works on the £124.5 million transformation to turn the roundabout into a flyover for traffic heading north and south.

But as of this week, the traffic on the A184 Newcastle Road can fill both lanes as it is returned to a dual carriageway, while construction is continuing by the side of the road as part of the plans.

A spokesperson for the Highways England said: “Our work on the A184 is making good progress and we now have two lanes open for eastbound traffic.

"The majority of our remaining work will be carried out with overnight lane closures to improve journeys.”

It comes after the support walls to retain the earth and support the beams for the flyover were complete, with preparations now being made to install them and the bridge deck next month.

Once complete – with the project scheduled to go into next year – vehicles on the A19 will no longer need to negotiate the junction, with traffic using the A184 able to join it as they do now via sliproads onto the major route.

The programme, which started in March last year, is being carried out to tackle congestion at peak times, with vehicles left with a wait of up to four minutes during busy periods.

It will also prepare for an increase in traffic, with an estimated 83,400 vehicles expected to use it every day by 2033.

The scheme will improve the flow of traffic once the International Automotive Manufacturing Park (IAMP) is completed next to Nissan, with a sister project is due to upgrade the Downhill Lane junction.

That was given the go-ahead by the Government's Planning Inspectorate last month and will also help ease congestion and prepare for an increase in capacity as more businesses set up in the area.

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