T & W Freight Partnership - 3 September 2013

Sunderland Transport Projects

Andrew Jameson – Transportation Strategy

Sunderland Transport Projects

• Sunderland Strategic Transport Corridor

• Pinch Point Schemes – A19 Junctions

• Sunderland Low Carbon Zone Infrastructure

• Port of Sunderland Developments

• Leamside Line

Current and future projects include the following:-

Providing transport infrastructure is necessary to fulfill

the council’s economic development aspirations

Overview – Sunderland Strategic

Transport Corridor (SSTC)

Overview – Sunderland Strategic

Transport Corridor (SSTC)

• Links the A19 with the city centre and the Port of Sunderland

• Is a key feature of the Council's vision for regeneration

• Begins at the A19 / A1231 junction, follows the A1231, crosses

the River Wear on a proposed new bridge, and continues to the

city centre and Port of Sunderland

• Consists of five phases, covering a ten to fifteen year period.

SSTC……

SSTC Phase 1 - St Mary’s Way (Under

Construction)

• This phase consists of realignment and construction of 500m of two-lane dual carriageway and a new public space. Overall cost £13.5m

• Construction work started in May 2013, with completion expected in November 2014

• The project is the next step in the Council’s plans for development of the Vaux site as a central business district

Vaux Development

SSTC Phase 1 - St Mary’s Way (Under

Construction)

• Create a direct traffic route

between Wearmouth Bridge

and St Michael's Way

• Accommodate traffic from and

provide access to the Vaux site

• Create a new public space,

between Magistrates Court

and High Street West

The proposed scheme will…..

SSTC Phase 1 - St Mary’s Way (Under

Construction)

The scheme will…..

• Include a pedestrian “super-

crossing” between the Vaux

site and Magistrates Court

• Integrate the Vaux site with the

City Centre

• Be a traditional tree lined

avenue, with landscaping

included.

SSTC Phase 2 - Proposed New Wear

Bridge

SSTC Phase 2 - Proposed New Wear

Bridge

• The proposed bridge will relieve congestion and improve access to

regeneration sites

• The proposed bridge will have four lanes for traffic and a dedicated

cycleway

• A tender process has taken place. However tender prices exceeded

the budget

• Approval given to commence procurement for a more simplified

form of cable-stayed bridge

SSTC – Remaining Phases

SSTC – Remaining Phases

The remaining Phases are as follows......

• Phase 3 - St Michael’s Way to Proposed New South Bridgehead

• Phase 4 - Wessington Way (A19 to Proposed New North Bridgehead)

• Phase 5 - Bridge Street to Commercial Road Roundabout and improvements to Port Access

Pinch Point Schemes – Sunderland

Strategic Junctions Improvement Schemes

Pinch Point Schemes – Sunderland

Strategic Junctions Improvement Schemes

• Sunderland City Council, and the Highways Agency, bid successfully for £1.82m of “Pinch Point” funding

• The schemes consist of improvements to the junctions of the A19 Trunk Road with:-

• A1231, Wessington Way (HA)

• A690, Durham Road (SCC)

• A183, Chester Road (SCC)

• Improvements include installation of replacement traffic signals on each roundabout to ease congestion at peak times, using MOVA and UTMC

Sunderland Low Carbon Zone Infrastructure

Sunderland Low Carbon Zone Infrastructure

• Transport infrastructure is required to support development of

the Sunderland Low Carbon Zone.

• The zone is located north of A1231, west of A19, east of

Leamside Railway Line and south of A1290.

• This area contains the Nissan factory, and low carbon

manufacturers and suppliers

• Access to the area is affected by key off-site junctions and

existing internal roads.

Sunderland Low Carbon Zone Infrastructure Several improvements are proposed……

Off-site infrastructure works (A19 Junctions)

• Improvements to A1290 junction

On-site infrastructure works

• A new single carriageway link road

• Upgrade part of Nissan Way to dual carriageway, and a new junction

• Improvements to Cherry Blossom Way / Washington Road (A1290) junction

• Funding for these schemes was secured as part of a successful bid for £12 million from Regional Growth Fund Round 4

Port of Sunderland Developments

The Port has seen…..

• Success in the Oil & Gas and Renewable sectors, assisting in

numerous offshore projects.

• Shipping numbers increase by 84% in recent years.

• Year on year growth of through tonnage encompassing bulk and

unitised products, as well as project cargos.

Leamside Railway Line

Leamside Railway Line

Leamside Line……

• Runs south from Pelaw to the East Coast Main Line near Ferryhill

• Runs along the western boundary of the Sunderland Low Carbon

Zone

• Although disused for over twenty years, the line was not formally

closed

• Potential for reinstatement of freight and possibly passenger trains.

Leamside Railway Line

Leamside Line……

• Could provide a diversionary route for freight traffic on the East

Coast Main Line

• Could provide rail access for freight shipments to and from the area

around Nissan

• Could form an extension of Metro

However re-instatement costs are likely to exceed £100 million