New dual-carriageway - into the last lap

Drivers are reminded that city centre access from the Northern Spire is restricted over the summer as final links for the city's new dual-carriageway are completed.

The 2.5kms (1.5 miles) of the Sunderland Strategic Transport Corridor (SSTC) 3 project are due to open later this year.

It links the southern end of the Northern Spire through the former Pallion Shipyard, underneath the Queen Alexandra Bridge, through Deptford Terrace and onto Riverside Sunderland and the city centre.

Pallion's Woodbine Terrace is being closed from Tuesday 1 June as these final stages of the SSTC 3 project are completed. Works are anticipated to be completed in September.

Drivers accessing the city centre from the A19/A1231 should continue to the Wearmouth Bridge. Drivers accessing Pallion and its retail park can use the Northern Spire and the diversion route of Paul Watson Way.

The new dual-carriageway is a key part of the City Council's ongoing works for a more dynamic, healthy and vibrant Sunderland as the route improves city connectivity and opens up new development opportunities.

Leader of Sunderland City Council, Councillor Graeme Miller said: "We're into the last lap now on this major civil engineering project - completing the links between the Northern Spire and the new highway. I'd like to thank everyone across the city for their patience and understanding while we've been completing this hugely important project."

Since the SSTC dual-carriageway works started in spring 2019, there have been major landscaping, excavation and construction works that have built 1.5kms (nearly a mile or 4,900ft) of retaining wall sections for the new highway. The £70m budget has included a contribution of £40m from the Department for Transport.

The programme of works over the summer for linking the Spire and new highway at the junction of Forster's Printworks, includes more earthworks, drainage, ducting, kerbing, and surfacing.

Cllr Miller added: "The new route is very much part of the bigger picture as we unlock even more of our city's potential, open up new development opportunities, build more homes and continuing making Sunderland a city for the 21st century."