Billy Mill roundabout set for removal

Press release: An abstract view of the Council crest

Work on the A1058 Coast Road Improvement Scheme is set to reach a key stage this month.

North Tyneside Council, in partnership with Capita, is investing £7.2 million to make the Coast Road safer and improve journey times for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists.

Billy Mill Roundabout will be removed and the junction will operate under temporary signals.

Motorists are also advised that the junction of Lynn Road and Billy Mill will be temporarily closed to traffic.

Cllr John Harrison, cabinet member for Housing and Transport, said: “The Coast Road Improvement Scheme is set to reduce journey times and improve safety for thousands of road users.

“The project will reach a key milestone with the removal of Billy Mill Roundabout and the introduction of road signals at the junction.

“North Tyneside Council is committed to keeping the public informed about the work and we would like to remind people that they can sign up to our e-bulletin for regular updates.

“Finally, we would like to thank the public for their continued patience during the delivery of this important project.”

Work to remove the roundabout is currently happening at off-peak periods, Monday to Friday, from 9.30am to 4pm. Subject to work progressing as planned, from Saturday, August 27, Billy Mill junction will no longer feature a roundabout and will operate under temporary signals.

From this point onwards there will be no access from Regent Terrace to Beach Road until all work at Billy Mill junction is completed.

In addition, the junction of Lynn Road and Billy Mill will be temporarily closed to traffic from Saturday, August 27 to Sunday, September 4 to enable works at this location. This has been timed to coincide with the school holidays to minimise disruption.

Because this junction closure will affect the 42, 53, 57A and 308 bus services, a free shuttle bus will be in operation from Lynn Road to North Tyneside General Hospital on Rake Lane. Further information about the shuttle bus is available on the North Tyneside Council website at www.northtyneside.gov.uk

Following the full closure of the junction of Lynn Road and Billy Mill, a partial closure of the junction will be required until work is completed at Billy Mill.

Although access to Lynn Road from Billy Mill will be maintained, there will be no access from Lynn Road to Billy Mill except for buses via an enforceable bus lane.

This partial closure will significantly help traffic flow as best as possible on the A1058 Coast Road and Beach Road while the temporary traffic signals are in use at the junction.

There will also be no access from Beach Road to Lynn Road. This is a restriction that will continue when the scheme is completed and will also help maintain traffic flows along the A1058 Coast Road and Beach Road

If you have any queries during the project, please email: roads@northtyneside.gov.uk or Tel: (0191) 643 6500.

To subscribe to a regular e-bulletin about the project, email roads@northtyneside.gov.uk

Notes to editors:

The A1058 Coast Road is one of the busiest in North Tyneside and used by around 45,000 vehicles each day. By 2029 it is expected this will have increased by 15 per cent to 51,000.

The Coast Road Improvement project is due for completion in 2017. It involves -

  • at Billy Mill Roundabout junction: replacing the roundabout with a signalised junction; providing two lanes eastbound along Beach Road; and delivering improved facilities for pedestrians and cyclists.
  • at Norham Road Bridge: widening the bridge to four lanes; signalising the sliproad junctions; and providing improved facilities for pedestrians and cyclists.

Capita Local Government, part of Capita plc, is dedicated to delivering outsourcing and professional services to the local government market and responsible for operating all of Capita's major local government and education partnerships. Employing over 8,000 people, Capita Local Government delivers a wide range of specialist services, including customer management, property development and regulatory services, educational transformation and support services and back office processing. Capita Local Government can also draw on specialist capabilities, such as ICT, HR and payroll from across the wider Capita group, to ensure the very best market knowledge and outcomes are achieved for customers.

In November 2012 the company entered into a partnership with North Tyneside Council to deliver a range of technical services: engineering; property; planning; building control and public protection.