Roundabout work hit by delays
WORK to remodel one of Teesside’s busiest roundabouts has slipped back. Motorists were told to expect around six months of delays when a major improvement programme started at Swans Corner in March.
Traffic orders are in place permitting temporary single lane and full road closures on approach routes to the roundabout, while the work is carried out in phases.
A full closure of Guisborough Road, at the roundabout end, is in place for the whole of the works and there are also temporary multi-way traffic lights and speed restrictions to manage traffic flow.
Now “additional” works by Northern Powergrid have pushed back the finish date.
Lib Dem Ormesby Ward councillor Carole Morgan posted an update on the scheme: “The Swans Corner Roundabout works are moving along now – an eight-week delay, caused by additional Northern Powergrid works, has led to a new completion date set for the end of October.”
Swans Corner is one of the main routes connecting Guisborough and East Cleveland with Middlesbrough and beyond.
Redcar and Cleveland Council says the works will help the roundabout cope with “future traffic growth” as well as improving “existing journey times” and has asked for patience from motorists.
The roundabout will be reshaped with dedicated left-turn lanes, “more room to manoeuvre” and better crossings for pedestrians.
“Residents facing especial difficulties with public transport can
contact Simon Houldsworth, transport strategic manager at [the council] and he will look at helping them,” Cllr Morgan added.
Drivers have vented about the possibility of further delays to journey times on social media.
“Oh for goodness sake,” one person posted, “just really frustrated with the upheaval and extra time traffic jams and petrol.”
While another reasoned: “Sometimes you just don’t know what’s going to be there until you start digging.”