DOUBT today hangs over the future of a £41m redevelopment plan at a busy roundabout in South Tyneside, which could help ease traffic jams around the Tyne Tunnel.
There are fears that funding could be halted for a Highways Agency scheme at Testo's roundabout, at the junction of the A19 and A184 in Boldon Colliery.
The preferred plan, for a new flyover across the roundabout, is one of many across the UK whic
h could fall victim to cash cuts, as the result of scheme overspends.
Figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act show that several new road schemes have cost three times more than originally estimated.
The total cost of the Highway Agency's 56 major schemes could rise from £8.46bn to £12.3bn.
Testo's roundabout intersects with the A19, which runs towards the Tyne Tunnel, where the construction of the New Tyne Crossing has triggered calls for better road junctions to reduce traffic congestion.
Trevor Jackson, managing director of TT2 Ltd, which operates the tunnel, said: "Whichever regime is in charge, there will probably have to be cuts. I'm not aware of the issues surrounding Testo's roundabout, but certainly, we need improvement schemes at that and other road junctions."
South and North Tyneside Councils last week joined forces to work at easing traffic problems at Silverlink and cutting congestion.
There are fears over gridlock once traffic flows more freely, following the completion of the £260m second Tyne Tunnel in 2012.
South Tyneside Council leader Iain Malcolm and newly-elected Mayor of North Tyneside, Linda Arkley, are calling on the Highways Agency to tackle traffic problems at Silverlink as a matter of priority.
Coun Malcolm said: "This junction is absolutely crucial to the second Tyne crossing scheme."
A Highways Agency spokesman has blamed cost overruns on inflation, changes in the scope of projects and "inadequate initial estimating."
The full article contains 314 words and appears in Shields Gazette newspaper.
