South Tyneside Council leader Iain Malcolm and newly-elected Mayor of North Tyneside, Linda Arkley, are urging the Highways Agency to fund a long-term solution for the problem at the junction of the A19 and Silverlink in North Tyneside.

Each year, there is the potential of Highways Agency under-spend, and rather than it remain unused in Government coffers, Coun Malcolm and Mrs Arkley say it should help motorists and the local economy.

Coun Malcolm said: "South Tyneside Council has been campaigning for improvements to Silverlink and the A19 junction for some time.

"This junction is absolutely crucial to the second Tyne crossing scheme. Fast-tracking the improvements would bring better prospects for enterprise, regeneration and jobs on both sides of the river.

"The staff and machinery are already on site, so it seems sensible and cost effective to utilise this opportunity to carry out the improvements to Silverlink and improve traffic flows on the A19.

"I'm pleased to be working with Linda Arkley to press the Highways Agency for an early release of funding to allow the work to be brought forward as a matter of urgency.

"Unless we do so, the traffic chaos at this junction will increase. "
Mrs Arkley added: "The inadequacy of the Silverlink junction to cope with traffic levels has an impact on both sides of the river, so it is important we join forces on this issue."

The A19 – the trunk road linking to the Tyne Tunnel – caters for more than 40,000 vehicles per day.

The Silverlink junction of the A19 trunk road and the A1058 is already over capacity – as it deals with some 100,000 vehicles a day.

And when the second Tyne Tunnel opens in 2012, those figures could significantly increase.

The Highways Agency has a scheme for improving the interchange in its programme for 2014.