Press release

Congestion cutting scheme completed on A19 Stockton-on-Tees

A £3.7 million congestion cutting scheme which will improve journeys for drivers in Stockton-on-Tees has been completed today (15 December).

The work at the A19/A689 Wolviston Interchange near Wynyard, is the first of four ‘Pinch Point’ schemes to be completed in the North East.

Highways Agency Project Manager, Steve Bishop, said:

This is great news for drivers in the region. It will have a positive impact on drivers using this important junction. The scheme will cut congestion and reduce journey times which will be beneficial for the local economy and will also improve safety for drivers using the junction.

Pinch Point schemes provide smaller scale improvements that can deliver big returns by easing congestion and making journey times more reliable for road users, including hauliers and commuters to help boost local economies and drive economic growth.

Stockton Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Transport, Councillor Mike Smith, said:

Businesses in the north of our Borough are continuing to develop and expand while the number of people living in the area is also growing so improvements to the road network are vital.

Congestion cutting schemes like this will help to support more business start-ups, the growth of existing companies and make it easier for people to get to and from work.

Stockton is a fantastic place to live, work and do business so I’m delighted people travelling through the Wolviston Interchange, whether it be for business or pleasure, can now do so more easily and safely.

The work, which began in May, has increased the capacity of the junction which will reduce congestion in the area. Full time traffic signals are now in operation on the roundabout and the eastbound and westbound A689 approaches to the A19 junction have been widened from two to three lanes. Improvements have also been made to the existing southbound entry slip road onto the A19. A new pedestrian route has been provided on the northern side of the junction, with signal controlled crossings over the A19 slip roads. The existing pedestrian crossing on the A689 east of the A19 has also been converted to a signal controlled crossing.

Further information is available on the Highways Agency website at www.highways.gov.uk/roads. You will also find information on the Pinch Point programme there.

General enquiries

Members of the public should contact the Highways Agency Information Line on 0300 123 5000.

Media enquiries

Journalists should contact the Highways Agency press office on 0844 693 1448 and use the menu to speak to the most appropriate press officer.

Published 15 December 2014