Testo's Roundabout upgrade update as scheme reaches huge milestone after final sections of A19 flyover are lifted into position

The beams of the 142-metre flyover in Boldon were made by Cleveland Bridge, the same firm which helped create the Wembley Stadium Arch, Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Shard in London.

The final set of the 25 pairs of girders were hoisted into place at the weekend while the interchange was closed off to traffic.

The final of three weekend closures is coming up this weekend, from 8pm on Friday, September 25 to 6am on Monday, September 27, when work will be carried out on the bearings and initial efforts begin to prepare it for when the road surface is laid early in the New Year.

In the meantime, construction will start on drains and the embankments around the new 1,393-tonne structure.

Once the project is complete next summer, motorists will be able to continue on their A19 journey without negotiating the roundabout, with 83,400 vehicles predicted to use it every day by 2033.

It will also help manage traffic using the Internation Advanced Manufacturing Parl (IAMP) being built near Nissan, with works also planned for Downhill Lane.

Highways England project manager Liam Quirk said: “We have finished the big beam installation and that forms the core of the bridge and that went in on Sunday and that is a significant milestone for the project.

"We have been planning it for a long time and we spent some time finding a crane big enough – the one we have is one of four in the country – that has the mobility that we needed.

"We had to close off the road to be able to do the lion’s share of the installation over the road safely.

"Now there’s a real sense of achievement and pride for the team and we’re happy it has been something we have been able still do during the coronavirus pandemic, as we have continued to build while following measures.

"We must thank the drivers of the North East for their patience and there is going to be short-term pain due to the works, but we need closures in place to be able to get this construction done over the roundabout.”

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