Junction works will shut slip road for months

The A19 slip road will be connected to the A1018 in efforts to ease traffic in the area

A busy slip road will close for several months while it is connected to a new roundabout.

The southbound A19 link on to the B1404 at Seaton will close from 18 April and will not reopen until the summer, according to Durham County Council.

The work is being carried out to ease congestion at Seaton Lane crossroads.

Elizabeth Scott, from the council, said the new roundabout would make a "big difference" to traffic in the area but the work would cause disruption.

When completed, the roundabout will link the slip road to the A1018 while keeping its connection with Seaton Lane.

A section of the A1018 will also be made two-way to give drivers exiting the A19 towards Sunderland a new route that avoids the Seaton Lane crossroads.

The roundabout has been designed to reduce congestion at the Seaton Lane crossroads

Ms Scott, the council’s cabinet member for economy and partnerships, said: "Anyone who uses Seaton Lane crossroads – where Stockton Road, Seaton Lane and Lord Byron’s Walk meet – will know just how congested it gets at peak times.

"It’s going to make a big difference, but like any major road scheme there will be some disruption during construction, particularly in these coming months when we have to have a 24-hour closure of the southbound slip road in place."