£51m A19 Upgrade Kicks Off Six Months Early
The A19 is getting a massive £51 million facelift – and work has started a whopping six months ahead of schedule. Transport Minister Baroness Vere revealed the early launch today (8 October 2020), highlighting the government’s drive to speed up Northern England’s transport upgrades.
Quicker, Easier Journeys for Thousands
The multi-million-pound improvement scheme at Downhill Lane, led by Highways England, aims to slash congestion and shorten travel times through this busy junction. The thousands working at the nearby Nissan factory will be among those benefiting most from smoother commutes.
Government Pushes Northern Transport Forward
Baroness Vere also chaired a virtual meeting with local leaders including North of Tyne Mayor Jamie Driscoll and North East Joint Transport Committee Chair Cllr Martin Gannon. The Northern Transport Acceleration Council (NTAC), launched earlier this year, works to fast-track transport projects across the North.
“I am delighted work has started early on this important road upgrade for the North East; it’s another example of our commitment to levelling up Northern transport infrastructure and to bringing projects forward where we can,” said Baroness Vere.
“It’s also the sort of accelerated works we want to achieve through NTAC in the future, to help us build back better and create more reliable, more connected and better quality transport options.”
Boosting Jobs and Growth with Infrastructure Investment
Highways England Chief Executive Jim O’Sullivan added: “By bringing forward the start of this multi-million-pound scheme, communities in the North East will benefit from the economic growth, jobs and homes that large engineering projects of this kind create.”
This A19 upgrade follows other major investments like the new Nexus Metro Satellite Depot, completed this month thanks to over £330 million in Department for Transport funding. NTAC is part of a wider government plan to use infrastructure projects to drive economic recovery after coronavirus and improve life and opportunity across the North.
