A19/A1018 Seaton Lane Junction

[jackal]

This unusual junction features a small north-facing half diamond within a large south-facing freeflow fork. The diamond does not connect directly to the A1018, so traffic going between the A1018 and A19 North is currently required to use B roads through Seaton.

Durham CC and Sunderland City are constructing an interesting little improvement that will provide direct access between the A1018 and A19 North. Assuming there aren't any nasty surprises like signalised merges it looks quite ingenious and much better value than the lowest common denominator approach of a big roundabout.

Plan: https://www.durham.gov.uk/media/32950/S ... 8116770000
Website: https://www.durham.gov.uk/seatonlane

[Chris Bertram]

This unusual junction features a small north-facing half diamond within a large south-facing freeflow fork. The diamond does not connect directly to the A1018, so traffic going between the A1018 and A19 North is currently required to use B roads through Seaton.

Durham CC and Sunderland City are constructing an interesting little improvement that will provide direct access between the A1018 and A19 North. Assuming there aren't any nasty surprises like signalised merges it looks quite ingenious and much better value than the lowest common denominator approach of a big roundabout.

Plan: https://www.durham.gov.uk/media/32950/S ... 8116770000
Website: https://www.durham.gov.uk/seatonlane

Why the roundabout, though? Surely a simple Give Way merge would have sufficed; I don't see all that much traffic wanting to use this facility. The next settlement to the north on A1018 is Ryhope, and traffic from there would use B1286 to head to the A690 junction.

[Herned]

I don't see all that much traffic wanting to use this facility. The next settlement to the north on A1018 is Ryhope, and traffic from there would use B1286 to head to the A690 junction.

I don't know the area but surely the local councils wouldn't be proposing this scheme if there wasn't a need. Looking at a map, it improves access to quite a large section of the southern side of Sunderland from the west/north

[Bryn666]

I don't see all that much traffic wanting to use this facility. The next settlement to the north on A1018 is Ryhope, and traffic from there would use B1286 to head to the A690 junction.

I don't know the area but surely the local councils wouldn't be proposing this scheme if there wasn't a need. Looking at a map, it improves access to quite a large section of the southern side of Sunderland from the west/north

A roundabout prevents two high speed streams slamming into each other immediately before a junction. It also removes the need to take more land for the left turn because it's at an acute angle.

The two way link road presumably will work as any other S2 into D2, with a 1+1 lane gain - with the existing fork slip being painted down to a single lane before this point. Likewise the southbound diverge will be a left hand lane drop.

[jackal]

This scheme has started construction.

From a quick Google I see two versions, one a more freeflow design, which has a DCC stamp and might be the plan I previously posted:



The second is less freeflow and is posted on Facebook by Seaham Lodge Road Campaign. I can't get the link working, but it has the southbound A1018 diverted into the roundabout. Hopefully this is not the real design.

[jackal]

This nice little scheme is supposed to be complete by the end of July. Here's the layout: https://www.durham.gov.uk/media/43063/S ... 7807830000

The scheme page mentions that it's "fully funded by Homes England's Housing Infrastructure Fund at a cost of £5.6million". Some consultants would've proposed a two-bridge roundabout, giving a worse outcome at ten times the cost. A little ingenuity goes a long way.

https://www.durham.gov.uk/seatonlane

[Bryn666]

This nice little scheme is supposed to be complete by the end of July. Here's the layout: https://www.durham.gov.uk/media/43063/S ... 7807830000

The scheme page mentions that it's "fully funded by Homes England's Housing Infrastructure Fund at a cost of £5.6million". Some consultants would've proposed a two-bridge roundabout, giving a worse outcome at ten times the cost. A little ingenuity goes a long way.

https://www.durham.gov.uk/seatonlane

That really is a neat fix. Sometimes you can be pleasantly surprised by traffic engineers.

[jackal]

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.

Also some construction pics: www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2xv33z27neo