National Productivity Investment Fund Successful Bid

SYSTRA Ltd supported South Tyneside Council and Highways England in a successful bid to the National Productivity Investment Fund (NPIF) to provide a highway improvement scheme on the A19 northbound approach to the Tyne Tunnel.

NPIF is a £1.2 billion competitive bidding process intended to stimulate the economy by facilitating development. A key part of this is putting in place improved transport links including better roads, cutting congestion and improving journey times to help people access work, school and services.

South Tyneside Council has been awarded a £2.2 million contribution towards a £2.9 million scheme consisting of the provision of a lane gain and lane drop allowing for an additional lane between the A194 Lindisfarne junction and the A185 Tyne Tunnel junction. This section of the network is prone to congestion throughout the day particularly during the morning peak period. The route is key arterial in Tyne and Wear which carries around 40,000 vehicles per day. The route also provides a key connection for freight movements between the A19 and the Port of Tyne for key employers including Nissan. The scheme will improve access to committed and proposed development opportunities delivering 800 dwellings and 3500 +jobs.

SYSTRA worked with South Tyneside Council and Highways England to design the scheme and tested it’s benefits within the A19 AIMSUN model. SYSTRA prepared cost estimates and generated a benefit cost ratio for the scheme.

Further information can be found below:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-invests-350-million-improving-local-roads