Construction work at A19 junction is on schedule

The aim of the £7.5m reconstruction of the Lindisfarne Roundabout is to reduce traffic jams and end flooding problems.

The dual carriageway is being widened to three lanes and a giant 1,250 cubic-metre water tank is being installed to help the flood-prone junction cope with heavy rainfall.

At a meeting of the Jarrow and Boldon Community Area Forum, Galliford Try, the company doing the work, said efforts are being made to keep disruption to a minimum.

Gino Salvatore from the firm said dust and noise had been the main concerns of nearby residents.

He said there had been an issue with dust from the site’s storage area being blown onto nearby homes but said dampening measures are now in place and the road surfaces are being cleaned more regularly.

Mr Salvatore also said night works are being managed to try and avoid keeping neighbours awake. He said: “The closest residents have been affected by noise. To keep it to the minimum we have been carrying out the heavier machine movements before midnight, inevitably however there will noise.”

Traffic has been delayed but Mr Salvatore said the average amount of time buses were being delayed for was 20 minutes.

South Tyneside Councillors said they were pleased with the way work was progressing and have not received complaints from residents or commuters.

Faye Cunningham, Labour councillor for Bede, said she had heard a couple of complaints but there were no “serious concerns”.

Audrey Huntley, Labour councillor for Fellgate and Hedworth, said: “I’d usually be the first to complain but the longest I have been in the traffic is 10 minutes.”

Joanne Bell, Labour councillor for Boldon Colliery, did raise concerns about the amount of traffic using other roads during the construction. Work started on July 18 and is due to be complete in June next year.