Highways Agency - Safe roads, Reliable journeys, Informed travellers

Update

The Spending Review announcement listed the A19 Testos Junction Improvements scheme for potential construction in future spending review periods, subject to the outcome of statutory processes. For more information visit our Future Delivery Programme page.

The Project

The Testos junction connects the A19 and the A184, south of Newcastle. It is of both local and regional importance providing links between Tyneside, Wearside, East Durham and Teeside. The A19 is a strategic route that provides an alternative to the A1 between North Yorkshire and North Tyneside.

In 2001 traffic signals were installed at the junction, which reduced congestion and improved safety. The current junction handles 80,000 vehicles per day and is often congested especially during rush hour periods. Expected growth in traffic means that the roundabout will become a bottleneck, resulting in longer delays and more severe congestion, increasing driver frustration.

In 2002 the Tyneside Area Multi Modal Study (TAMMS) recommended that Testos Junction be improved. The scheme has been considered a priority since 2006 by the North East Regional Transport Board who support the scheme's continued development as part of an overall route strategy for the A19.

The Highways Agency awarded the North East Package B contract in March 2006 to Costain and Jacobs. The Early Contractor Involvement contract provides A19 (T) Junction Improvements at Testos and Seaton Burn. Further information about Seaton Burn will be available soon.

The objectives of the scheme are to:

• Improve road safety at the junction
• Relieve congestion associated with the roundabout
• Minimise the environmental impact of the proposals and mitigate them where possible.

The Highways Agency has been assessing options to improve Testos Junction on the A19.

What happens next?

The Public Consultation closed on 22 June. More than 200 people visited the Public Exhibition and we received more than 800 completed questionnaires. We would like to thank everyone who gave us their views on the proposals. Your views are important to us and we will carefully consider them, together with those of our stakeholders and other bodies as part of the decision making process for the preferred route and subsequently when the Preferred Route is developed.

The Timetable lists the key milestones and dates for the project.

Further information

If you cannot find the answer to your question on this website please contact the A19 Testos Junction Improvement team at a19testosjunctionimprovements@highways.gsi.gov.uk