National Highways has reached a major milestone on its A1 Birtley to Coal House road widening scheme, with traffic switching to use the new Allerdene bridge.
In what the company described as ‘a strategic move aimed at optimising traffic flow and enhancing connectivity’, traffic heading northbound exiting the A1 at Junction 67 now uses the new bridge.
National Highways said that by moving the northbound exit slip road, it can continue construction and re-align the other lanes of the A1 on to the new bridge.
The scheme will see approximately four miles of the A1 between junctions 65 and 67 widened to help manage traffic flow from vehicles joining and leaving the road.
It is also replacing the old Allerdene railway bridge, which carries the A1 over the east coast mainline railway.
National Highways said the old bridge was built nearly 40 years ago and requires regular and disruptive maintenance.
Over the coming months, other lanes will be moved on to the new Allerdene Bridge, which is being built just south of the existing bridge.
The new bridge is south of the existing A1 as it turns from north-south to east-west
Project manager Helen Burrow said: ‘We are thrilled to see traffic smoothly transition to the new bridge and lanes. These accomplishments are a testament to the remarkable progress achieved in the project.’
Elsewhere on the scheme, the southbound carriageway of the Bowes Incline on the A1 has seen traffic use the new lanes.
National Highways said this ‘secondary milestone’ promises reduced congestion, improved traffic management and heightened road safety measures.
The progress will also enable National Highways to shift focus ahead of the installation of the North Dene footbridge.
The scheme will increase the number of northbound lanes from two to three and southbound lanes from three to four. Junctions 65, 66 and 67 will be modified to accommodate the additional lanes.
