Upgrade planned for Sunderland roads

Sunderland roads will receive a $40.5million upgrade including a new dual carriageway to improve the local economy.

The government’s upgrade to Sunderland roads is projected to dramatically reduce journey times and improve the local economy through better connections. It is also hoped the upgrades will help support thousands of new jobs and homes.

In total, the project will cost £70.2million and forms part of extensive plans to improve transport across the north. The work will upgrade part of the A1231 road between the Northern Spire Bridge and the city centre into a dual carriageway, cutting each journey by an estimated two and a half minutes and preventing traffic jams.

Jesse Norman, Roads Minister, said: “The government is investing record amounts to improve travel in towns and cities across Britain.”

“Sunderland is a great city with a great future. We hope the schemes we are funding will help to unleash its potential – creating jobs and enabling new homes – and turbocharge the Northern Powerhouse.”

The stretch of road provides access to a number of prominent local businesses including the Nissan car manufacturing plant, the Enterprise Zone, and the International Advanced Manufacturing Plant. It is also planned to allow for regeneration on both sides of the river, freeing up land for 1,000 new homes.

The North East will also receive £10million investment from the government’s Transforming Cities fund for cycle and bus routes. Transport Secretary Chris Grayling announced the funding, promising extra routes for Sunderland.

The government’s fund will provide £1.3billion for 12 cities across England to improve transport. Recently, work also started on the £125million Testos Roundabout scheme and a new triple-decker roundabout on the A19, and Sunderland is also invited to apply for the government’s Future of Mobility competition which will award four cities pilots of innovative new transport technologies to improve people’s journeys.

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