A funding package for improvements along two major Sunderland routes has been approved by North East Mayor Kim McGuinness.
Drivers, pedestrians, bus passengers and other road users are set to benefit from £2.4 million of upgrades on the A183 Chester Road, alongside a further £2.5 million investment on the A690 Durham Road.
The works follow a major community consultation exercise last year where hundreds of people gave their views and rejected ideas for bus corridors.
Works will include filling in the unpopular Hastings Hill underpass and replacing it with a new pedestrian controlled crossing point.
“With thanks to the North East Combined Authority and Mayor Kim McGuinness, we’re now looking at possible start dates into spring or early summer.
“The investments reflect what people said in the consultation about improvements for all highways users from new signalised pedestrian crossings at Hastings Hill and on Bede Bank to updated bus shelters.”
The City Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport and Net Zero, Councillor Lindsey Leonard
The improvements and updates are possible thanks to the new funding for the region secured from Government in the deal which created a North East Mayor and North East Combined Authority (NECA).
Improvements will include:
A183 Chester Road
- New traffic lights at Hastings Hill roundabout, including a controlled pedestrian crossing as an alternative to the existing underpass
- Improved pedestrian access to bus stops, with new carriageways and footway surfacing
- More modern bus shelters
- Improved road markings at Grindon Mill roundabout for all traffic to reduce existing conflict
- Improved paving at other junctions, improving accessibility for all users to existing bus stops
More details on Chester Road are at: https://www.sunderland.gov.uk/bsipchesterroad
A690 Durham Road
- Traffic light controlled pedestrian crossing outside Bede College Campus
- Introduction of zebra crossing outside of Sunderland Children’s Centre
- Improved access to bus stops, with new road and footpath surfacing and road markings
- More modern bus shelters
- Changes to junction layout into Springwell Road to help for right turning traffic
- Improved paving at other junctions, improving accessibility for all users to existing bus stops.
More details on Durham Road are at: https://www.sunderland.gov.uk/BSIPDurhamRoad
“Works are focused on the elements that residents and responders told us about – enhancing road safety, improving accessibility, and upgrading infrastructure along the route.”
Cllr Leonard
