Main construction work on the Birtley to Coal House stretch of the A1 near Gateshead with an estimated completion cost of around £220 million began today.
It is being carried by the Government-owned company National Highways which said when finished, it will boost the regional economy by improving journeys to the Newcastle and Tyneside area by increasing capacity, making journeys safer and more reliable.
The scheme was one of two major road upgrades that celebrated key milestones on Wednesday.
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National Highways said it had also widened and increased the number of lanes in both directions along the A19 in Teesside, between the Norton and Wynyard junctions, several months earlier than planned.
Minister for Roads, Buses and Places, Baroness Vere of Norbiton said: “Investing in infrastructure is at the heart of this Government’s plans to build back better and level up the North, so it’s fantastic to see works underway on the A1 and improvements on the A19 finishing early.
“Both these schemes will bring a wealth of benefits to communities and businesses in the North East by boosting capacity, cutting congestion and ensuring better journeys across the region.”
National Highways chief executive Nick Harris said: “We pride ourselves on managing and improving England’s motorways and major A roads to make journeys safer, smoother and more reliable, as we deliver the Government’s strategic roads investment programme.
“I’m delighted to see the completion of the A19 Norton to Wynyard work earlier than planned so drivers can experience the benefits.
"It’s also great news that we’re now commencing the main construction work to upgrade the A1 between Birtley to Coal House.
“The A1 and the A19 are extremely important routes and these improvements, amongst the many others projects we’ve done - and are continuing to do in the region - will provide better, safer journeys and connections for our road users.”
These schemes are part of a series of improvements along the A19 and A1, amounting to an estimated £560 million worth of investment, which have either recently been completed or are on the ground.
They have seen National Highways upgrade the A19 Testo’s junction with a new flyover where drivers can now travel along the A19 over the roundabout and benefit from new slip roads to the A1984.
It has created extra capacity between the A19 and the A1290 in Sunderland, on the Downhill Lane junction, supporting plans for the development of the International Advanced Manufacturing Park (IAMP), located in the area north of Sunderland's Nissan Motor Manufacturing plant and major international supply chain companies.
And it is carrying out a range of improvements along the A1 corridor between Newcastle upon Tyne and Gateshead by increasing the number of lanes in each direction between junction 74 at Scotswood and junction 79 at North Brunton.
Preparatory work for the A1 Birtley to Coal House scheme began in May and Wednesday marked the beginning of the main construction phase.
It will see the road widened from three to four lanes between junctions 65 and 67 on the southbound carriageway and three lanes with an additional lane to help manage traffic joining and leaving the A1 between junctions 65 and 67 on the northbound carriageway.
The existing Allerdene railway bridge, which carries the A1 over the East Coast Main Line, will be replaced and new bridges will also be constructed at junctions 66 and 67.
National Highways will also introduce electronic signage to provide driver information along the road.
The location of these signs has been agreed with Gateshead Council and in consultation with Antony Gormley’s studio in order to consider views of The Angel of the North.
The iconic statue’s setting will be improved with tree planting within the boundary of the scheme to maximise visibility of the Angel.
The upgrade, which is due to open to traffic in Spring 2025, is being delivered by Costain Jacobs Partnership.
* All these are estimated costs of individual A19 and A1 major schemes either recently completed, or on the ground, by National Highways are:
- A19 Testo’s junction improvements = £125m
- A19 Downhill Lane junction = £51.6m
- A1 Scotswood to North Brunton = between £106m and £116m
- A1 Birtley to Coal House = £220m
- A19 Norton to Wynyard = £65m
