The project to lower the A19 under the A1058 Coast Road and Coast Road roundabout is entering its final stages and is being delivered by the Sisk Lagan joint venture (JV).
Construction began in June 2016 and has so far resulted in three bridges being built, one to support the A1058 Coast Road over the Coast Road roundabout and two to carry the Coast Road roundabout over the newly lowered A19.
To support the new structures, more than 580 piles have been installed covering seven miles from end to end. Around 80,000 m3 of soil is also being removed and being used to help form the embankments on the nearby A19 Testos scheme.
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Over the next 10 months, improvements will be carried out to the 1,175 metres of cycleway and an extra 247 metres will be created. The gantries for improved signage will also be installed and the roundabout completely resurfaced.
Highways England assistant project manager Steven Cox said: "This is a busy junction used by more than 80,000 drivers every day and we have produced a video to show the incredible transformation that has already taken place. We are nearly three quarters complete now with the main bulk of the work digging out the 80,000 cubic meters of soil as the last major milestone.
"Drivers who use this junction regularly will already be able to see progress as the earth is removed to create the third layer of the junction which will mean drivers will be able to continue straight along the A19 underneath the roundabout.
"The final supports for the A1058 westbound bridge were lifted into place a few days ago and we have started the foundation work on the pedestrian and cycle bridges."
(LM/MH)
