A178
| A178 | ||||
| Location Map ( geo) | ||||
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| From: | Middlesbrough (NZ488205) | |||
| To: | Hartlepool (NZ509326) | |||
| Via: | Seaton Carew | |||
| Distance: | 9.3 miles (15 km) | |||
| Meets: | A66, B1272, A1046, A1185, B1277, B1276, A689 | |||
| Primary Destinations | ||||
| Highway Authorities | ||||
| Traditional Counties | ||||
| Route outline (key) | ||||
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The A178 is an industrial A-road in the Teesside area.
Route
Middlesbrough - Hartlepool
The road starts on the A66 in Middlesbrough and runs round the back of the railway station to TOTSO left at traffic lights before crossing the River Tees via the transporter bridge. After a detour to go under the railway line the road TOTSOs right on meeting the A1046.
The A178 continues north. It's surrounded by sheds and factories which dwarf the small row of terraces on your left as you head out of town. The whole area is a salt marsh and mixes heavy and petrochemical industry with bird watchers. At the first roundabout, Seal Sands industrial area is off to your right, and the left turn is the A1185 back to the A19. Going straight on there is very little of interest unless you are a twitcher, and at the next roundabout you can turn into more heavy industry.
We carry straight on into the village of Seaton Carew where the road parallels the sea and runs along the shoreline. The railway line is crossed with a bridge for each carriageway after which the road descends into Hartlepool. It passes the station to bear right at a mini-roundabout by Christ Church, now an art gallery, to end at traffic lights on the A689 near the harbour.
Original Author(s): Lonewolf
Opening Dates
| Year | Section | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1919 | Seaton Carew - Port Clarence | The 5.5 mile road was to open on 6 January 1919. It provided a shorter route from Hartlepool to the Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge and the town. It was initially a private road built by the Tees Conservancy Commission and was opened between sunrise and sunset on payment of a toll. The works cost was £70,000 which was justified by the development of land reclaimed. Durham County Council took over the road as a public highway after agreement in early December 1919. It was numbered A178 in 1923. |
| 1970 | Hartlepool: Newburn Railway Bridge Dualling | A second bridge was built alongside the existing bridge over the Hartlepool – Billingham railway just south of Burn Road, with adjacent dualling. Opened on 11 November 1970 by J.W. Mason, Chairman of the Borough Works Committee. It was to provide a better link between the nuclear power station at Seaton Crew and the docks. |
