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This diagram gives a clear picture of the timescales involved in completion of the New Tyne Crossing. At present we are at the project review stage. Once this is completed there are various statutory processes that need to be gone through including a possible Public Inquiry in October 2001. At the same time that the statutory processes take place, tenders will be invited for the appointment of the Concessionaire which will finance, build and run the tunnel. It is expected that the successful bidder will be appointed at the end of 2002. The winner will then complete their detailed designs. This will be immediately followed by the construction of the tunnel which is expected to take two and a half years, with completion expected in November 2005.
Boost for local economy
The new tunnel will provide a much needed boost for jobs and local businesses say economic experts from Arup which is leading the consortium of advisers to the PTA. Congestion at the tunnel at peak times is a barrier to people seeking work on the opposite bank and to business investment in the area. A recent survey of 2,500 commuters showed that average journey lengths are quite short, with 60% of traffic dispersing quickly onto local roads on both sides of the Tyne. The new crossing will increase the number of vehicles using the tunnel, encourage commuters and promote use of the A19 for longer journeys. It will also open up a vital gateway to local business parks, encouraging new job and investment opportunities in the area -particularly on the north bank of the river where there is land available for development. This is good news for people seeking jobs on both sides of the river - but particularly for residents in South Tyneside where unemployment is particularly high. Jobs will also be created during the construction of the tunnel and work to upgrade adjacent slip-roads. Councillor Tom Hanson of South Tyneside Council said: “We are working hard to ensure the proposals meet the needs of the local community now and into the future. The existing tunnel is a bottleneck which inhibits economic development and the creation of job opportunities. It is our belief that the construction of a new tunnel and the free flow of traffic it will allow, will encourage companies to locate to those modern business parks that are so vital to the regeneration of the region.” The Regional Development Agency, One NorthEast, has also expressed its support for the project, following a presentation on progress and economic development opportunities by advisers on the project. Commenting on the proposed crossing, Steve Gawthorpe, head of regeneration at One NorthEast said: “Investment in the region’s transport infrastructure is essential if we are to meet the current and future needs of businesses, reducing costs and improving their competiveness.”