Testos Roundabout
Moderator: Site Management Team
A19 Testos and Downhill Lane junction improvements
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/
http://roads.highways.gov.uk/projects/a ... rovements/
- Mark Hewitt
- Member
- Posts: 31556
- Joined: Fri Dec 17, 2004 12:54
- Location: Chester-le-Street
Re: A19 Testos and Downhill Lane junction improvements
Another one which falls under the category of 'why wasn't this one 20 years ago'
Re: A19 Testos and Downhill Lane junction improvements
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: 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:
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: 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:
Re: A19 Testos and Downhill Lane junction improvements
Too clever for its own good! Down with this sort of thing.jackal wrote:One of the discounted options is really weird though...
Chris
Roads.org.uk
Roads.org.uk
Re: A19 Testos and Downhill Lane junction improvements
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/
http://roads.highways.gov.uk/projects/a ... rovements/
Re: A19 Testos and Downhill Lane junction improvements
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.
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.
- Mark Hewitt
- Member
- Posts: 31556
- Joined: Fri Dec 17, 2004 12:54
- Location: Chester-le-Street
Re: A19 Testos and Downhill Lane junction improvements
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.
Re: A19 Testos and Downhill Lane junction improvements
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.
- Mark Hewitt
- Member
- Posts: 31556
- Joined: Fri Dec 17, 2004 12:54
- Location: Chester-le-Street
Re: A19 Testos and Downhill Lane junction improvements
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.jackal wrote:Now you mention it, it seems this will be another case where a left turn filter lane is removed. Annoying.
Re: A19 Testos and Downhill Lane junction improvements
I'll be telling them that in the consultation
Re: A19 Testos and Downhill Lane junction improvements
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/
http://roads.highways.gov.uk/projects/a ... rovements/
Re: A19 Testos and Downhill Lane junction improvements
Statutory consultation now open. Seems mostly to be about NMU arrangements.
https://highwaysengland.citizenspace.co ... sultation/
https://highwaysengland.citizenspace.co ... sultation/
Re: A19 Testos and Downhill Lane junction improvements
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.
Re: A19 Testos and Downhill Lane junction improvements
Get your legislation here: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2018 ... tents/made
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Re: A19 Testos and Downhill Lane junction improvements
Traffic regulations associated with construction, apparently starting next week and lasting for 3 years 2 months.
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/notice/3143035
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/notice/3143035
- Conekicker
- Member
- Posts: 3799
- Joined: Sat Dec 10, 2005 22:32
- Location: South Yorks
Re: A19 Testos and Downhill Lane junction improvements
You DON'T need an order for a lane closure! I despair.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
Patience is not a virtue - it's a concept invented by the dozy beggars who are unable to think quickly enough.
Re: A19 Testos and Downhill Lane junction improvements
At least they bothered with overproviding this time unlike the M60 speed limit fiasco during the smart motorway works...Conekicker wrote: ↑Thu Nov 01, 2018 20:18You DON'T need an order for a lane closure! I despair.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
One day HE will genuinely impress me. Today is not that day.
Bryn
Terminally cynical, unimpressed, and nearly Middle Age already.
She said life was like a motorway; dull, grey, and long.
Blog - https://showmeasign.online/
X - https://twitter.com/ShowMeASignBryn
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@BrynBuck
Terminally cynical, unimpressed, and nearly Middle Age already.
She said life was like a motorway; dull, grey, and long.
Blog - https://showmeasign.online/
X - https://twitter.com/ShowMeASignBryn
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@BrynBuck
Re: A19 Testos and Downhill Lane junction improvements
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!