A19 Testo’s junction

Latest updates

• 06 July 2021

  Celebrating 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.”

  

  Among those celebrating the official opening of the A19 Testo’s junction improvements were (from left to right): Fiona Bootle (Tyne Tunnels Manager), Trevor Male (South Tyneside Council, Strategic Transport Lead), Tim Gamon (Regional Delivery Director for Yorkshire and North East, Highways England) and John Marshall (Chair of North East England Chamber of Commerce)

  To see the story of how these improvements were achieved please view our video

   

• 08 June 2021

  Key milestone achieved as flyover opens to traffic

  The new flyover over the A19 Testo's roundabout in South Tyneside, welcomed traffic for the first time from Monday 7 June.

  Highways England is continuing work around the flyover and roundabout over the coming weeks to fully complete the upgrade. However, drivers will be able to drive straight through the A19 without stopping at the roundabout.
  
  There is still a fair bit of work to be done before we can completely open to traffic but we are delighted that people wishing to continue travel on the A19 can now do so without having to use the roundabout. 

  Closures and diversions will remain in place for the nearby A19 Downhill Lane major scheme which will provide extra capacity on the junction between the A19 and the A1290 in Sunderland, supporting the regional economy and plans for the development of International Advanced Manufacturing Park (IAMP).

• 12 February 2021

  Progress update

  Engineers have continued to work tirelessly since the bridge beams were lifted into place, using a 1,000-tonne mobile crane, last summer. Since then, we have been able to see more clearly what the final flyover structure will look like.

  Concrete pouring has taken place on the bridge deck which will allow the road to be built over the top of the structure, and over the winter months the earth embankments will continue to settle before laying the surfaces of the new A19.

  We are working towards an open to traffic date of summer 2021.

  We’ve also adjusted the contraflow and moved it further south to create more room for the ongoing work at Downhill Lane. These changes have extended the working area by 1.5 miles and mean that the Testo’s and Downhill Lane projects can be delivered as one scheme, reducing delays and minimising the impact on drivers.

  The Downhill Lane improvement will create extra capacity on the junction between the A19 and the A1290 in Sunderland, helping boost the regional economy and plans for the development of the International Advanced Manufacturing Park (IAMP). New link roads will be created between Downhill Lane and Testo’s, boosting journey times and providing new facilities for pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders.

   

• 04 December 2020

  A19 Testo’s improvement scheme – update December 2020

  Progress so far

  We have installed all the panels that will allow us to pour concrete to complete the bridge deck.

  We have built up the embankments which support the bridge. The earthworks need to settle over a period of a few months to ensure they are strong and stable.

  We’ve also completed the drainage at south pond.

  The drainage, kerbing and footpath work on the A184 is ongoing and nearing completion.

  All this with a net carbon saving of 14,000 tonnes.

  What’s next

   When the embankments are complete to the required height, there will be a period of settlement.  Once this is complete, we will then build up the road surface as it crosses over the bridge.

  Our work is being coordinated alongside the activities taking place at Downhill Lane.  We need to remove as many of the temporary restrictions from the junction as possible, as this will allow us to close the southbound entry slip road at Downhill Lane.

  Once this closure is in place, we can then continue with building the southern bridge at Downhill Lane.

  There will continue to be fencing, drainage and sign installation on-going at the same time.

  How are we working through Covid?

  We have worked on site all the way through the Covid restrictions. All our staff work socially distanced.

  We have some 300 workers on site every day.

  We are very pleased that finding safe ways to continue working means that we have not had to lay any staff off or place anyone on furlough. We are proud to be supporting the economy of the North East with the majority of our workforce and the companies we use for materials and vehicles being from the North of England.

  Considerate Constructors Excellence award

  Following a virtual inspection the A19 Testo’s project was awarded an ‘Excellence in Construction’ certificate by Considerate Constructors.

  The inspector commented: “The overall appearance of this large and exposed site remains impressive. The site is very visible to the public and presents an excellent image of the industry. It continues to be well organised with prominent signage throughout. The whole area was very clean and tidy. The traffic management is exemplary with regular reviews and changing priorities to maintain a constant flow of traffic.”

• 25 September 2020

  The bridge is in place

  We’ve now finished installing the bridge structure and are working on creating the driving surface.

  The bridge is important to this project as it raises the A19 above the existing roundabout. When the scheme is complete, drivers will be able to drive along the A19 over this new bridge meaning they no longer have to stop at the existing junction.  

  Over the weekend of 26/27 September the following closures will be in place:

  • A19 northbound closed between Hylton and Testo’s.
  • A19 southbound lane closure only.
  • A184 westbound closure.

  Please be aware that closures can change, so visit our Traffic Information pages for the latest information.    

• 26 August 2020

  Weekend closures for bridge beam installation

  We’ll be installing the new bridge over the A19 during September. The bridge is important to this project as it raises the A19 above the existing roundabout. When the scheme is complete, drivers will be able to drive along the A19 over this new bridge meaning they no longer have to stop at the existing junction.

  The bridge will be made from several huge steel beams These will be moved into place by a mobile crane, starting on Friday 4 September. 

  To complete the job as safely and quickly as possible well need to close the A19 for several weekends in September. The A19 will be fully closed, as well as the approaches to the junction along the A184 from 8pm on 4 September to 6am on Monday 7 September.

  It’ll also be closed: 

  • 18 to 21 September 
  • 25 to 27 September

  Clearly signed diversions will be in place.

  Northbound traffic will use the A1231 Sunderland Highway, A195, A194(M) and A194 Leam Lane, and the reverse route will be available for southbound traffic. There will be alternatives for non-motorway traffic and local residents accessing Boldon. 

  Please be aware that closures can change, so visit our Traffic Information pages for the latest information.

• 01 August 2020

  Bridleway closed until end of the month

  We have completed building the support walls to retain earth and support the beams, while maintaining strict safeguarding measures, in line with Public Health England guidance, to prevent the spread of COVID19.

  The bridleway is now closed to the public – a clear diversion route is in place for walkers, horse riders and cyclists. It will reopen at the end of August 2020.

  We are preparing for the installation of beams and the bridge deck which is due to take place in September.

• 26 May 2020

  Preparing to build the flyover

  Piling work has been completed at Testo’s roundabout, enabling contractors to build the support walls for the bridge.

  We have made good progress with earth work, drainage and fencing, while maintaining strict safeguarding measures, in line with Public Health England guidance, to prevent the spread of COVID19.

  Now we can turn our attention to building the support walls to retain earth and support the beams, before finally installing the beams themselves. Later this year the flyover will be in position and ready for the road to be built on it.

  Next we will start resurfacing work underneath Downhill Lane, which requires the removal of some of the temporary safety barrier. To do the job safely, there will be a full weekend closure of the northbound A19 between Hylton and Testo’s roundabout from 8pm on Friday (29 May) to 6am on Monday 1 June. This will be followed by overnight closures from 1 June to resurface the area and install new drainage.

   

• 02 March 2020

  Two lanes open northbound and southbound

  Drivers can now use two new lanes on both the northbound and southbound sides of the roundabout, creating the room needed for work on building the flyover to go ahead. Southbound traffic is due to switch onto new lanes shortly.

  We’ve also completed the new link road from Downhill Lane to Testo’s roundabout and started the foundations for the flyover with more than 130 concrete piles.

  During the summer months we will be building the flyover to carry the A19 over the roundabout. To do this we have three separate stages – putting in the piers (central supports), building supporting walls to retain earth and support the beams, and then finally installing the beams themselves. By the end of the summer the flyover will be in position and ready for the road to be built on it.

  We have a programme of weekend closures planned for the rest of 2020. These closures will be signposted through electronic signs, media releases and use of our Twitter channel @HighwaysNEAST. We will use these closures to excavate the old carriageway and rebuild the road to the finished levels, as we prepare for these traffic changes.