Busy slip road to close until the summer

It is hoped the new roundabout will reduce congestion

A busy road will be closed for a number of months while work is carried out to link it to a new roundabout.

The southbound A19 slip road onto the B1404 Seaton Lane, County Durham, is due to reopen in the summer.

It is hoped the new roundabout, which will connect the slip road to the nearby A1018, will help ease congestion at Seaton Lane crossroads.

Durham County Council apologised for the inconvenience and thanked people for their patience while it delivered the "important project".

The council's cabinet member for economy and partnerships Elizabeth Scott said: “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."

Signed diversions will be in place throughout the work.

The £5.6m scheme is funded by Homes England’s Housing Infrastructure Fund.

Part of the A1018 will be changed into a two-way road, giving Sunderland-bound drivers exiting the A19 southbound a new route which avoids the Seaton Lane crossroads.