Hundreds of residents have fed in to plans by the Labour-led Sunderland City Council to improve some of the city’s main roads.
Over 500 residents from across Sunderland participated in a public exercise to consult on council proposals to improve the A183 Chester Road and The A690 Durham Road from the A19.
Labour councillors from several communities within the proposed road work areas have proactively gathered the views of residents through community and council surveys to ensure that local people were at the centre of the process, helping to raising awareness of considerations being suggested.
The result was one of Sunderland City Council’s most successful public engagement exercises to date and new proposals, now shaped by residents, which will further improve traffic flow and safety on some of the city’s most utilised roads. It has also seen proposals for bus-only lanes dropped.
Cllr Lindsey Leonard, Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport and Net Zero, said: “We are delighted with how many residents got involved in the public engagement exercise to share their views.
“Our people’s manifesto which we were elected to deliver upon, outlined our commitment to be a council which communicates, listens and acts on information from our residents, and this is a perfect example of how we are doing just that.”
After collating the data and evaluating residents’ feedback, Sunderland City Council has now presented revised plans for the roads in line with suggested amendments which directly reflect the views of the people of Sunderland.
The improvements will include:
A183 Chester Road
- New traffic lights at Hastings Hill roundabout, including a controlled pedestrian crossing as an alternative to the existing underpass.
- Improvements to Greenwood Road roundabout.
- Improved pedestrian access to all bus stops, with new carriageway and footway surfacing.
- Installation of modern bus shelters.
- Improved road markings at Grindon Mill roundabout for all traffic to reduce existing conflict.
- Improved paving at other junctions, improving accessibility for all users to existing bus stops.
For more information, please visit: https://www.sunderland.gov.uk/bsipchesterroad
A690 Durham Road
- Traffic light controlled pedestrian crossing outside Bede College Campus
- Introduction of zebra crossing outside of Sunderland Children’s Centre.
- Improved access to bus stops, with new road and footpath surfacing and road markings.
- Installation of modern bus shelters.
- Changes to junction layout into Springwell Road to help for right turning traffic.
- Improved paving at other junctions, improving accessibility for all users to existing bus stops.
For more information, please visit: https://www.sunderland.gov.uk/BSIPDurhamRoad
The improvements have been funded by the North East Combined Authority, led by Labour Mayor, Kim McGuinness.
Original proposals including the introduction of bus lanes along both routes, have now been removed after the Council asked residents for their views.
Cllr Leonard added: “It is great to see the Mayor providing the funding required to help make these changes.
“While bus lanes formed part of the initial changes suggested, feedback made it clear that other options were preferred and so we have listened.
“Instead, we are focusing funding on the elements that residents and engagement responders told us about enhancing road safety, improving access to bus stops, and upgrading infrastructure along the route.
“It is a great example of how our Labour-run Council, alongside our Labour Mayor and Labour Government, are committed to driving real change which impacts the lives of our residents. Long may it continue.”