Highways Agency

The Project

The A19 Seaton Burn and Testos Grade Separation schemes were two of the five highway improvements to be carried forward as Programme of Major Schemes, which were identified by the Tyneside Area Multi Modal Study in 2003. Although separate schemes, the two schemes were packaged together for procurement purposes. This concept is considered to be of benefit to the supply chain in that it provides continuity of work over a longer period which will enable project teams to be kept together facilitating innovation and continuously improving working practices from one project to the next. The 2 schemes were recently endorsed as regional priorities by the Regional Transport Board for the North East as supporting economic growth within the Region

The Highways Agency has awarded a contract for the A19 Package B, which provides for the grade separation of the two roundabouts to Costain Ltd, on 27 March 2006.

This junction improvement scheme (Contract Value £27.2m) is programmed to start on site in 2011 and be completed at the end of 2012. The junction of the A19 and the A1 north of Newcastle is a grade separated junction on the A1 with slip roads connecting to an at-grade roundabout with five arms. This junction has high traffic flows which leads to extensive congestion problems and an accident record more than double the national average.

The contractor will be responsible for the further preparation of the 2 schemes leading to the publication of Draft Orders, the possible Public Inquiry and the execution of the works on site.

It is expected that the Minister will make an announcement on the "Preferred Route" for the scheme in Winter 2008.