A19 Testo’s junction
Testo’s roundabout is a major junction connecting the A19 with the A184 in South Tyneside. We will raise the A19 on a flyover and build new slip roads to connect it to the A184 via the Testo’s roundabout so through traffic on the A19 can free flow.
Latest updates
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06 July 2021
A19 Testo's scheme is officially open to traffic
After more than a million hours of work – around 60 per cent of that time coming from a local workforce – a £130 million junction improvement in the North East is complete and fully open to traffic
The new Testo’s flyover raises the A19 over an iconic South Tyneside roundabout enabling better journeys and connections to international gateways and the rest of the country.
Drivers can now travel along the A19 above the roundabout and benefit from new slip roads to the A1984.
The £130m Testo’s junction upgrade brings great benefits to the North East, providing swifter, more reliable free-flowing journeys and supporting economic growth in the region.
Minister for Roads, Buses and Places, Baroness Vere of Norbiton said:
“The £130m Testo’s junction upgrade will be hugely beneficial to the North East, providing swifter, more reliable free-flowing journeys and supporting economic growth in the region.
“As we build back better from the pandemic, this Government will continue to invest billions of pounds to improve infrastructure, boost connections, and level-up regions right across the country.”
Highways England acting chief executive Nick Harris said:
“This opening is an important milestone in the substantial investment being made in the North East’s major A roads.
“Our roads are not only the lifeblood of our economy, they support local as well as national businesses, and are vital to enable our emergency services to support local communities.”
Project information
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Overview
Testo's junction suffers severe congestion at peak times, with delays of up to four minutes per vehicle. Traffic flows through the junction are expected to reach 83,400 vehicles every day by 2033. Our Testo's improvements aim to improve journey time (savings of around four minutes by 2036) and increase capacity.
We will also improve safety for all drivers, cyclists and horse riders.
Benefits
We are raising the A19 carriageway to carry it above the existing roundabout.
Access to the junction to and from the raised A19 carriageway will be via new slip roads and access to the Downhill Lane junction will be provided via two parallel roads that link to the south facing slip roads.
The existing bridleway bridge to the north of Testo's junction has been removed and new routes through the junction will be provided for pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders. Two balancing ponds will be created, one at the south-east end of the scheme and one to the north-west.
The objectives of this scheme are to:
- support economic growth
- provide a safe and serviceable road network
- provide a more free-flowing road network
- improve the environment
- provide an accessible and integrated road network
Documents
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Traffic information
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