Plan revealed to upgrade Silverlink roundabout

Nov 21 2009 by Adrian Pearson, The Journal

HIGHWAYS bosses have unveiled plans to solve one of the North’s most congested road junctions.

The A19 could now be rebuilt to pass under the Silverlink roundabout in North Tyneside following years of complaints from motorists fed up with gridlocked roads.

Proposals from the Highways Agency look at three options. Their preferred option would see the construction of two bridges to carry the roundabout over the lowered A19. A replacement bridge would also be built to support the A1058 Coast Road across the junction and access to the A19 would then come from slip roads.

Other more expensive proposals include building a tunnel under the Coast Road for the A19 or creating an A19 flyover.

Last night there were concerns the roadworks would only move the problem from the Silverlink junction to other roundabouts on the A19.

The upgrade comes after repeated calls for investment led by former North Tyneside mayor John Harrison. He told highways bosses they could cripple Tyneside’s economy if they did not act to free up traffic on the A19.