A HALF a billion pound project aiming to eliminate tailbacks on Teesside’s major roads will find out if it’s reached its next stage before the year is out. 

The A19 Tees Crossing is set to cost upwards of £480m if it gets the nod from Government bosses. 

Transport officials at the Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) have updated councillors on where the project stands at the moment. 

Travel chief Tom Bryant told the audit and governance committee a business case for the scheme had been sent off to the government – stressing its importance to the wider fortunes of Teesworks and Teesside’s regeneration ambitions. 

And he also gave a rough timeline of next steps. 

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Mr Bryant said: “We’ve submitted a business case for that scheme and over the last six months we’ve been working very closely with the Department of Transport to make the case as strong as we possibly can.

“We’ve submitted additional evidence linking it to Teesworks and the Freeport site saying how important that site is to unlock this transformational growth.

“It’s moving away from it just being seen as a transport scheme.

“We’ve made the strongest possible case to Government we’re hoping they’re going to be taking a decision later this year on taking it forward to the next step to work with National Highways to make a full business case for the scheme. 

“It’s a top priority and it has been since the combined authority was formed.

“We continue to push as hard as we possibly can to the government to take it forward.”

National Highways – formerly Highways England – has estimated the scheme will cost just shy of £500m. 

Mr Bryant believed they had a strong case but conceded government finances were “challenging” at the moment. 

“This is not just a bridge – this is fundamental to our transport system and all our current operations,” he added.

“The mayor and everyone else is really pushing hard to persuade the government to commit to it.”

Chancellor Rishi Sunak didn’t address the Tees Crossing when asked about wider infrastructure for the new Teesside Freeport on a visit to Yarm on Thursday. 

The scheme would see the existing viaduct widened to three southbound lanes between the A1046 and the A66 – with a new bridge structure to carry northbound traffic to the west.

The project has also been listed as a Transport for the North priority to come before 2027 – with officials hoping for construction to start in 2025, and for traffic to begin using it in 2028. Timescales for transport projects are set to be unveiled in January.

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