Major road revamp is to be resumed

SEVERAL roads in County Durham will be closed from Monday as roadworks resume.

Durham County Council halted all road projects apart from emergency work in March.

However, following the latest Government guidance, which said those who cannot work from home “should go to work”, the council has started to reinstate some projects and services.

This includes work on Junction 61 at Bowburn, which links the A1M, A177 and A688, to improve the junction ahead of new developments in the area which will see an increase in the number of vehicles.

The work will mean daily road closers from 6am to 6pm until June 7 to allow for works on the A688 at the Roadchef junction, around the northern edge of the junction and the traffic island at the main junction; on the A1M north exit slip road to the A688; and on resurfacing the junction and finalising new traffic lights.

The southbound entrance and exit on the A1(M) Bowburn will be closed with no access to the B6291 towards Coxhoe and A177 towards Bowburn from the southbound entrance from Monday for eight days until Wednesday, May 20 while work is undertaken.

The northbound entrance and exit on the A1(M) Bowburn will be closed with no access to the A177 towards Bowburn or Roadchef services on the A688 from Thursday, May 21 until Sunday, June 7, while work is undertaken.

There will also be no east-towest access from Coxhoe to Bowburn during this period and all dates and times are provisional.

Diversions will be in place throughout these works and those making essential journeys that would ordinarily take them along these roads are advised to allow extra time for journeys.