Highways England has revealed details of a project that involves the construction of a triple decker roundabout.

Above: The triple decker roundabout

The structure is being built by contracting joint venture Sisk Lagan as part of its A19/A1058 Coast Road junction improvement North Tyneside. The plans will go on public display in Newcastle next weekend.

Sisk Lagan will be lowering the A19 beneath the existing A1058 Coast Road and roundabout to reduce congestion. Work starts in August 2016. Sisk Lagan’s contract is valued at £40m. The overall scheme cost for Highways England is £75m.

The £scheme is on the main route to and from the Tyne Tunnel and will mean that people travelling along the A19 will no longer have to queue at the roundabout to go straight on. Instead drivers will be able to use a new section of road which will run under the existing junction.

Highways England project manager Julie Alexander said: “Once complete, this scheme will improve journey times on the A19 by reducing congestion and improving safety for the thousands of drivers that use this junction each day as well as cyclists and pedestrians.

“The A19 is a vital strategic link providing access to the Tyne Tunnel Trading Estate, Silverlink Retail Park, Cobalt Business Park and South East Northumberland. During construction we will do everything we can to keep disruption to a minimum and ensure that traffic does keep moving.”

The public information exercise, to explain what disruption can be expected by local motorists, includes a display at the Village Hotel on Cobalt Business Park, West Allotment, Newcastle, NE27 0BY on Friday 1st July between 2pm and 8pm and on Saturday 2nd July between 10am and 4pm. Representatives from Highways England and Sisk Lagan will be on hand.