A182 East Durham Link Road Stages 1 and 2

Current Position

This scheme comprises two stages. Stage 1, for which funding is secured, commenced on site in September 2007 and will link the A19 at the A182 Cold Hesledon junction with the site of the former Hawthorn Colliery and cokeworks, which is to be redeveloped for industry.It is due for completion in June 2008. Stage 2 is the remainder of the scheme, linking with the B1285 west of Murton with a proposed roundabout. This would provide a full bypass of Murton, relieve traffic in South Hetton and provide an enhanced access to the Hawthorn site. Stage 2 was not identified as a regional priority by the Interim Regional Transport Board in its review of major schemes in the region in January 2006; nevertheless, it was included within the final version of the Local Transport Plan 2 (2006-11) as third priority major transport scheme. In August 2006 central government rejected the County Council's funding application for the scheme and at this point in time Stage 2 does not feature in any firm programme. A review of regional priorities for major schemes will take place in 2008 and it is envisaged that Stage 2 will be re-submitted at that time.

Estimated Cost

Stage 2 - £9.5M (at 2006 prices)

Stage1 - £ 3.5M (at 2007 prices)

Reasons for Doing the Scheme

• To assist in the regeneration and economic growth of East Durham subsequent to the mining closures by attracting industrial and commercial development through improvements to the road network.
• To provide an important link to the east-west route between the industrial development at Seaham/Dawdon and the A1(M).
• To provide a western access for industrial development on the site of the former Hawthorn Colliery/Cokeworks.
• To provide a bypass of Murton and relieve traffic in South Hetton thereby removing through traffic and improving road safety and the environment for residents.

Brief Description of the Scheme

Stage1 This scheme comprises the construction of approximately 1.7 kilometres of 7.3 m wide carriageway linking the A19 Cold Hesledon junction with a roundabout to access the proposed development on the former Hawthorn Colliery and cokeworks site.

Stage 2 This scheme involves the construction of approximately 4.0 kilometres of 7.3 metre wide single carriageway linking the B1285 west of Murton with Stage 1 of the scheme which connects the Trunk Road A19 with the Hawthorn development on the former Hawthorn Colliery and Cokeworks site.

The following map shows the A182 East Durham Link Road. Please click on the image below to see an enlarged version of the plan:

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This map is reproduced from the Ordnance Survey material with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of her Majesty’s Stationery Office Crown copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. Durham County Council, 076589, 2005.

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Plan of scheme.pdf (1 page, 980kb)

Background

A planning application for the whole scheme, incorporating an Environmental Statement, was submitted in June 2003. This application was considered by Durham County Councils Planning Committee in December 2003 and the Planning Committee resolved to approve the application subject to the agreement of the Highways Agency regarding the capacity of the junction of the scheme with the Trunk Road A19 at Cold Hesledon. The Highways Agency withdrew their holding direction and planning approval for the scheme was granted in August 2006. Part of the scheme is in the City of Sunderland area and their Planning Committee approved the application in January 2005.

An order was published for Stage 1 (linking the A19 and the formwer Hawthorn Colliey and Cokeworks site) early in 2006, to authorise the stopping up of various rights of way and private means of access. Whilst one objection was made, this was subsequently withdrawn and the order was confirmed.