History of the Scheme

Middlesbrough Council commissioned a study in July 2001 to examine the potential for improving accessibility to the North Middlesbrough area.

North Middlesbrough comprises the area between the A66 and the River Tees and includes the major employment area of Riverside Park, the South West Ironmasters Site, the existing residential community of St Hilda’s, Middlehaven and the Middlesbrough Dock. Much of this area is under used and some sections are derelict, hence the area is a focus for regeneration in Middlesbrough.

The key issues affecting regeneration of the North Middlesbrough area at present are:

• Peak hour congestion at existing points of access and egress;
• The divisiveness of the A66 and Hartington Road from North Middlesbrough and the Town Centre respectively
• Inadequate public transport;
• Poor pedestrian and cycle facilities.

These combine to act as major constraints to the regeneration of the North Middlesbrough area particularly, which in turn possibly affects Middlesbrough Town Centre generally

In February 2002, the preferred package of accessibility improvement measures was presented to Middlesbrough Council for approval. This followed the study, during which all key stakeholders were consulted and were supportive of the package of measures recommended.

Following approval to the preferred package of measures by the Council, a major scheme submission was prepared for the Department for Transport (DfT). The submission was prepared with the full co-operation of Middlesbrough Council, key stakeholders, and Government Office for the North East (GONE).

In December 2002, the Council received confirmation from GONE that the package of improvement measures had been accepted for funding. The accepted funding comprises central Government and local contributions.

Since provisional approval was given to the funding of the North Middlesbrough Accessibility Improvements, FaberMaunsell, in partnership with Middlesbrough Council, has undertaken a number of additional tasks aimed at moving forward the delivery of the major scheme.

In 2006 Middlesbrough Council appointed a team consisting of Contractors Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering Ltd & Designers Halcrow to design, develop and construct a solution to resolve the traffic issues associated with the area.