Motorists warned of closure

Drivers are being warned of a planned road closure in Houghton-le-Spring.

Sunderland City Council has made an order to ban all traffic on Hawthorn Street – from its junctions with Beckwith Close and Fairbairn Drive and Fairbairn Drive, from its junctions with Hawthorn Street and Harle Close – for eight weeks from March 1.

The order, under the terms of the Road Traffic Act, is required to enable a series of work to go ahead – including the widening of Hawthorn Street to provide a new drop off/pick up lay by and creation of an overflow car park. Alternative routes will be signposted.

The maximum duration of the order will be 18 months, however it is estimated that the work will be completed within eight weeks.