Good progress being made on throughabout conversion project

Works to convert the former Haughton Road throughabout to a more conventional roundabout are on track to be complete this Spring.

Preparation works on site are now almost complete and the next phase of works, to reshape the roundabout to create additional lanes and the widening of the road towards Darlington College, are set to get underway.

The improvement scheme is being delivered by Darlington Borough Council and is jointly funded by the council and Tees Valley Combined Authority through the National Productivity Investment Fund.

The aim of the project is to improve the flow of traffic on one of the town’s busiest commuter routes and support the growth of employment sites at Lingfield Point, Central Park and the new Ingenium Parc.

Since works began at Haughton Road, engineers on site have constructed retaining walls at Haughton Road and around the garage site to create extra space for new lanes to be added to the roundabout.

Underground works to provide new ducting and utility cables are almost finished and the pedestrian crossing on Barton Street is complete.

The next phase of work will involve creating new kerb lines, installing traffic islands and adding new safety barriers. A series of road closures are required to allow these works to take place safely:

Haughton Road closures

Monday, January 20: Haughton Road will be closed to traffic going towards the town centre between Westgarth Terrace and the throughabout

Tuesday, January 21- Thursday, January 23: Haughton Road will be closed to traffic heading away from the town centre, from the throughabout to Westgarth Terrace.

During both closures a diversion will be signed via Tornado Way and McMullen Road. Access will be maintained for local residents where possible. Arriva services 9 and 10 will follow the diversion route.

Tornado Way closures

Monday, January 27 – Tuesday, February 4: Tornado Way will be closed to traffic heading away from the town.

A diversion will be signed via Haughton Road and McMullen Road. Traffic heading towards the town on Tornado Way will be unaffected. Arriva service X67 will follow the diversion route.

Councillor Heather Scott, leader of Darlington Borough Council, said: “Works are progressing well at Haughton Road and motorists are already seeing the benefits of the changes that are being made to the roundabout.

“A lot of the works that have been done so far are the largely unseen but necessary elements that will help the new junction operate smoothly in future.

“We try to avoid road closures where possible and most of the works to date have been carried out without causing delays. However the scheme is at a stage now where some limited works can only be done safely without traffic being present.

“I’d like to say thank you to all the motorists who use the Haughton Road junction, and residents living close to the site, for their ongoing patience as these works progress, it really is appreciated and I know that it will be worth the wait.”