Testos Roundabout

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jackal
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A19 Testos and Downhill Lane junction improvements

Post by jackal »

Consultation on this opens in a couple of weeks. From previous proposals the improvement is likely to be a pair of two-bridge roundabouts with parallel link roads between them to reduce weaving. Probably the A19 will be on a flyover at Testos, while the roundabout will be over the top at Downhill Ln, with the existing bridge retained as one of its bridges. That said, recent schemes have contained some surprises, so who knows. The indicated price is a cool £100mil.

http://roads.highways.gov.uk/projects/a ... rovements/
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Mark Hewitt
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Re: A19 Testos and Downhill Lane junction improvements

Post by Mark Hewitt »

Another one which falls under the category of 'why wasn't this one 20 years ago'
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jackal
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Re: A19 Testos and Downhill Lane junction improvements

Post by jackal »

The consultation brochure is now online: https://highwaysengland.citizenspace.co ... et_web.pdf

I hadn't quite grasped that they were sticking with the entirety of the preferred route announced for Testos, including the link roads between the junctions. This means that the consultation actually only relates to Downhill Lane.

The brochure has just one 'proposed' or 'preferred' option, which is exactly as described in the OP, with the extra bridge at Downhill Lane to make a two-bridge roundabout junction:
Downhill proposed.PNG
The 'discounted' options are mostly two-bridge roundabouts with extra left-turn filters, which adds to costs significantly due to extra land take and need for strengthening of the River Don culvert. I can see why they were rejected but still think the extra capacity might have been worthwhile. One of the discounted options is really weird though:
Downhill rejected.PNG
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Re: A19 Testos and Downhill Lane junction improvements

Post by Chris5156 »

jackal wrote:One of the discounted options is really weird though...
Too clever for its own good! Down with this sort of thing.
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jackal
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Re: A19 Testos and Downhill Lane junction improvements

Post by jackal »

A second consultation for Downhill Lane starts 30 Jan. The first consultation only closed on Friday (6 Jan), for a lightning fast three week turnaround time!

http://roads.highways.gov.uk/projects/a ... rovements/
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Re: A19 Testos and Downhill Lane junction improvements

Post by Glom »

Hee hee. Testos.
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jackal
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Re: A19 Testos and Downhill Lane junction improvements

Post by jackal »

A new consultation on Testos is now live:

https://highwaysengland.citizenspace.co ... -junction/

From a skimread it just seems to be about confirming the 2014 design. There aren't alternative designs or anything like that.

Confusingly, though Testos and Downhill will be constructed as one scheme, HE are applying for separate DCOs for each of them. Hence we've had separate consultations for Testos and Downhill within a month of each other.
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Mark Hewitt
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Re: A19 Testos and Downhill Lane junction improvements

Post by Mark Hewitt »

It all looks reasonable and is an almost identical layout to the next junction to the North with the A194. It's a pity that there's no freeflow with the A184 to the West, but still.
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jackal
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Re: A19 Testos and Downhill Lane junction improvements

Post by jackal »

Now you mention it, it seems this will be another case where a left turn filter lane is removed. Annoying.
Last edited by jackal on Tue Jan 31, 2017 13:09, edited 4 times in total.
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Mark Hewitt
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Re: A19 Testos and Downhill Lane junction improvements

Post by Mark Hewitt »

jackal wrote:Now you mention it, it seems this will be another case where a left turn filter lane is removed. Annoying.
Yes, considering this is the main route from the A1(M) to the Tyne Tunnel - and of course used to be the A1 - it's a tad disappointing it's being deprecated.
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jackal
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Re: A19 Testos and Downhill Lane junction improvements

Post by jackal »

I'll be telling them that in the consultation :)
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wrinkly
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Re: A19 Testos and Downhill Lane junction improvements

Post by wrinkly »

Preferred route for Downhill announced today

http://roads.highways.gov.uk/projects/a ... rovements/
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jackal
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Re: A19 Testos and Downhill Lane junction improvements

Post by jackal »

Statutory consultation on Downhill Lane opens next week. Testos is more advanced and has had its planning application submitted.

http://roads.highways.gov.uk/projects/a ... rovements/
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jackal
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Re: A19 Testos and Downhill Lane junction improvements

Post by jackal »

Statutory consultation now open. Seems mostly to be about NMU arrangements.

https://highwaysengland.citizenspace.co ... sultation/
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Re: A19 Testos and Downhill Lane junction improvements

Post by Glenn A »

Like the Silverlink roundabout on the other side, Testos dates from the sixties and just can't cope any more, even if traffic lights have made it safer. A total replacement with the A19 on a flyover is needed.
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Re: A19 Testos and Downhill Lane junction improvements

Post by c2R »

Is there a road improvement project going on near you? Help us to document it on the SABRE Wiki - help is available in the Digest forum.
Have you browsed SABRE Maps recently? Get involved! - see our guide to scanning and stitching maps
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wrinkly
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Re: A19 Testos and Downhill Lane junction improvements

Post by wrinkly »

Traffic regulations associated with construction, apparently starting next week and lasting for 3 years 2 months.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/notice/3143035
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Re: A19 Testos and Downhill Lane junction improvements

Post by Conekicker »

wrinkly wrote: Thu Nov 01, 2018 19:03 Traffic regulations associated with construction, apparently starting next week and lasting for 3 years 2 months.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/notice/3143035
You DON'T need an order for a lane closure! I despair.
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Re: A19 Testos and Downhill Lane junction improvements

Post by Bryn666 »

Conekicker wrote: Thu Nov 01, 2018 20:18
wrinkly wrote: Thu Nov 01, 2018 19:03 Traffic regulations associated with construction, apparently starting next week and lasting for 3 years 2 months.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/notice/3143035
You DON'T need an order for a lane closure! I despair.
At least they bothered with overproviding this time unlike the M60 speed limit fiasco during the smart motorway works...

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Re: A19 Testos and Downhill Lane junction improvements

Post by GC_A690 »

Lots of earthworks have been going on on both sides of the A19 between Testos and Downhill Lane for about the last month or so. This week a temporary speed limit was put in so I'm guessing it won't be long before work starts impinging on the carriageway. Can't give a detailed description of the progress so far as I'm far from an expert in such matters, but I do drive past the site twice a day and enjoying watching the surroundings slowly changing!
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