A BUSY dual carriageway was closed during rush hour this morning (October 19) due to concern for a woman apparently threatening to jump from a footbridge.

The incident was sparked after police were told a woman was seen on the outside of railings on the bridge over the A19 near to the Nissan factory, between Sunderland and Washington, shortly after 6.20am.

Police attended the scene, on the bridge linking Ferryboat Lane, Sunderland, to the Nissan site.

As a precaution it was decided to close the A19 in both directions, between the A1231 Wessington Way junction and Testo’s roundabout, near West Boldon, as well as the footbridge itself.

It led to long tailbacks in both directions on the A19 with commuters heading to and from the Tyne Tunnel blocking alternative road routes, with the A183 Chester Road particularly badly affected.

At one point northbound traffic stretched back south of the A690 junction with the A19, near the Doxford International Business Park junction at Herrington.

The drama ended when the woman was talked down and escorted from the bridge, enabling the road to be reopened at 8.22am, but traffic took some time to ease ensuring many commuters were late arriving at workplaces across the region.