Hope that new government funding will see ‘worst roundabout in Sunderland’ upgraded
Local councillors have welcomed new government funding which could see an upgrade to the Chester Road / Springwell Road / Holborn Road junction in Sunderland.
Secretary of State for Transport Mark Harper announced a £118 million funding package for the North East's 'Bus Service Improvement Plan' at a Transport for the North conference taking place in Newcastle yesterday (6th March).
The Bus Service Improvement Plan is designed to make buses faster, cheaper and more reliable across the region.
The plans include proposals for a multi-million pound upgrade of the Chester Road / Springwell Road / Holborn Road roundabout, regularly dubbed the worst roundabout in Sunderland.
The proposal is to remove the small roundabout entirely and replace it with a traffic signal junction, with new technology employed to optomise green light times by adapting to traffic levels on all 4 approaches.
It would also allow for proper pedestrian crossings at the junction for the first time.
It is hoped this would avoid the huge queues that build up at rush hours causing delays for bus passengers and motorists alike.
Following this week's funding announcement, the plans for spending on specific schemes will need to be signed off by the North East Joint Transport Committee at its meeting on 21st March.
Commenting, Lib Dem councillor for Pallion and Ford Estate Martin Haswell said:
"There is no doubt that this terrible roundabout is the worst junction in Sunderland. It's just too small for the volumes of traffic using it, leading to huge tailbacks at rush hours and regular accidents on the roundabout itself.
"Improving the junction with a modern set of lights that can adapt to traffic levels should improve the traffic flows, which are much higher than they once were as Holborn Road now leads up to the new Spire Bridge.
"This upgrade is something that local Lib Dem councillors across Ford, Hylton Lane Estate, High Barnes, Grindon and Springwell have been calling on Sunderland Council and regional transport chiefs to commit to for years.
"With new funding earmarked for an upgrade of this junction, an end to these terrible tailbacks and accidents is now in sight. Regional transport bosses should urgently commit to using this new government funding to get rid of the roundabout and upgrade this junction as quickly as possible."