A19 triple decker roundabout finished off with a time capsule
Work to create the North East’s first triple decker roundabout is coming to an end as 80,000 cubic metres of soil is removed, enough to fill 32 Olympic sized swimming pools.
The £75m Highways England scheme in North Tyneside is now 80% complete and involves lowering the A19 underneath the Silverlink roundabout and A1058 Coast Road.
The new road is expected to be used by 35,400 vehicles on average a day and expected to improve safety and reduce collisions.
Highways England assistant project manager Steven Cox said: “You can really see the junction starting to take shape with the 3 layers and it’s fantastic that we are now entering the final stages. Work to remove the 80,000 cubic metres of soil has now been completed and this marks yet another major milestone on this vital scheme.
“We have 6 months left on site and we will be pulling out all the stops to ensure this scheme is completed on time. We still have some important work to complete such as the drainage, the pedestrian and cycle bridges and resurfacing the entire junction but providing the winter is kind to us we should be on track.”
Since work started in June 2016:
- 55 bridge beams transported from West Mead in Ireland have been used, weighing 35 tonnes each at a length of 22 metres
- 3 new bridges have been constructed to carry the existing layout
- 580 piles installed which end to end will cover 7-miles
- 2 miles of new drainage has been put in
- 80,000 cubic metres of soil has been removed which will be used on the roundabout further south at Testos to create the embankment needed for that scheme – that’s enough to fill 32 Olympic sized swimming pools
- On average 120 people work on site each day
- The scheme employs 6 graduates or apprentices
- 60% of its workforce lives in the North East
- Two years without a loss time injury
- They have received more compliments than complaints
Improvements to the 1,175 metres of cycleway and an extra 247 metres will be created, the same length as Tyne Tunnel. The gantries for improved signage will be installed and the roundabout completely resurfaced.
A time capsule has also been buried on site and will be unearthed in 100 years’ time. Local businesses and schools have all contributed items to be used in the time capsule and a plaque was unveiled by the Elected Mayor of North Tyneside Norma Redfearn CBE, she said: “This really is history in the making. It’s a landmark project unlike any other in the North East and I’m delighted that local people have been able to get involved with filling and burying the time capsule.
“The work to provide the new triple decker roundabout will bring benefits not just for people living here and now but for many generations to come. It’s great to think that those same people will one day reopen this capsule and be able to appreciate what life was like as the project was taking shape.”
The scheme is on track to be completed by the end of March 2019. Anyone interested in finding out more about the scheme can subscribe to receive updates about the scheme via Highways England’s website.
