ONE OF SUNDERLAND’S busiest traffic roundabouts and junction is getting a new lease of life.
The Barnes Gyratory links a series of roads connecting Sunderland city centre with the A1 and A19.
It brings together;
- A690 Durham Road
- Silksworth Lane
- Queen Alexandra Road
- Barnes Park Road
As part Sunderland City Council’s £ three million Highways Capital Expenditure programme, old traffic signals and corroded poles are being replaced, equipment updated and redundant technology removed
As many as 20,000 vehicles use the Barnes Gyratory every day with traffic directed by a progressive system of traffic signals, at what has become one of Sunderland’s busiest junctions.
Delays to traffic will be minimised while essential work takes place.
Sunderland City Council Portfolio Holder for City Services, Councillor Michael Mordey said: “Sunderland City Council is committed to investing in our city’s highways network, despite Government austerity programmes.
“The Barnes Gyratory is one of our most important junctions and is always really busy. These works will ensure that the thousands of motorists using it every day can continue to move through it smoothly, and will do so for years to come. We are doing everything to ensure motorists are not inconvenienced by this work, with traffic management measures in place to minimise any delays.
“The work is part of our on-going investment programme designed to improve our city’s roads and reduce congestion. It will also contribute to the continuing economic development of our city by helping make sure everyone can use our network of roads safely and conveniently.”
In the last year, the council improved traffic signals at nine other locations in the city as well as completing more than 150 highway schemes including resurfacing work on 25km (15 miles) of roads and strengthening of 8km (four miles) of footways.
During the 2017/2018 programme, 205 scheduled projects will resurface residential roadways and major A roads across the city.