Planned closure for Testo's Roundabout cancelled this weekend as work finishes ahead of schedule

A planned closure of Testo’s Roundabout will not go ahead this weekend after bosses in charge of the new A19 flyover confirmed it was no longer needed.
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Highways England had been due to shut off access to the junction in Boldon as part of the ongoing £124.5 million project which will allow traffic on the route to continue without the need to stop and negotiate the roundabout, with sliproads to connect traffic from the A184 Newcastle Road.

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But this afternoon, Friday, September 25, Highways England announced there was no longer a need to close it off from this evening until 6am on Monday, September 28, as planned following the work carried out last weekend.

Photos by Highways England show the bridge under construction at Testo's Roundabout.Photos by Highways England show the bridge under construction at Testo's Roundabout.
Photos by Highways England show the bridge under construction at Testo's Roundabout.
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It will mean traffic will now be able to flow along the A19 and from the A184 junctions, however, there will still be restrictions in place on the eastbound A184 during from 8pm today until 6am on Monday.

Piles between 32 metres and 28 metres were driven into the ground to prepare for the supporting walls for the 142-metre flyover, with work now set to begin to install the drains and embankments around the bridge.

It is made up of 25 pairs of girders, made by Cleveland Bridge which has previously helped build the Shard in London and the arch at Wembley Stadium, with the longest measuring 33 metres.

A photo taken by the Highways England drone shows the work completed so far on the flyover.A photo taken by the Highways England drone shows the work completed so far on the flyover.
A photo taken by the Highways England drone shows the work completed so far on the flyover.
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The project is scheduled to be complete by next summer, with work to lay the new road surface expected to begin in the New Year.

Once open, the flyover and roads leading onto it will be ready to handle the predicted 83,400 vehicles which will use it every day by 2033, making journey times faster, tackling congestion and taking traffic for the International Advanced Manufacturing Park (IAMP) being built off Downhill Lane, close to Nissan, with that junction to also get an upgrade.

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