£3.36million funding puts road project in fast lane
GOVERNMENT CASH WILL HELP MAKE ‘NORTHERN GATEWAY’ SCHEME A REALITY
A £4million-plus traffic scheme to create a new “gateway” to Sunderland city centre from north of the Wear has received a Government cash boost.
The £4.8million project involves returning North Bridge Street and Dame Dorothy Street to two-way traffic.
At present, traffic travelling into the city centre must turn left at the Wheatsheaf and use Roker Avenue, Church Street and Dame Dorothy Street to reach Wearmouth Bridge.
Traffic heading north across the bridge for the university or Roker must travelupNorthBridgeStreet and use Roker Avenue and Church Street.
Originally announced in 2015, the work was described in council papers as a “gateway scheme to introduce two-way traffic on North Bridge Street and Dame Dorothy Street, to ease the flow of traffic coming into the city centre across Wearmouth Bridge and cut travel times, thereby assisting businesses, consumers and visitors to the city.”
Now, Sunderland City Council has been awarded £3.36million from the Department for Transport towards the cost of the work.
The money, which is part of a £345.3million funding package to improve local roads and public transport across the country, has been announced by Transport Secretary Chris Grayling.
Seventy-six projects nationwide across the country have been awarded funding totalling £244million for work such as improving access to public transport sites, opening up more roads for cyclists, addressing key local traffic “pinch points”and supporting the development of new housing.
An additional £101.3million will pay for two new major roads in Middlewich, Cheshire, and Worcester, in the Midlands.
Coun Michael Mordey, the City Council’s Portfolio Holder for City Services, said: “Since unveiling the outline details of the North Bridge Street and Dame Dorothy Street scheme, the council has been speaking to stakeholders, such as public transport operators, and completing more design work and further transport analysis.
“The changes here are about improving journey times and offering more direct access to the city centre for southbound traffic through Bridge Street and over the Wearmouth Bridge.
“This council is committed to further improving our city’s road and wider transport network.
“Now, with this award, the DfT has also recognised the importance of this scheme, which is all about better journey times and improvements to our environment.
Chris Grayling said: “This Government is investing a record £23billion on our roads to increase capacity and improve journeys.”