Esh Construction secures a substantial £6.7m contract to improve access roads at Sunderland’s International Advanced Manufacturing Park (IAMP).
- The IAMP is a collaborative venture between Sunderland and South Tyneside Councils to boost regional economic growth.
- Esh Construction will upgrade the A1290 carriageway to enhance transport routes for the new manufacturing hub.
- The project aims to minimise traffic disruption with strategic construction planning across three main phases.
- Completion is expected by summer 2025, connecting the site to new developments including a gigafactory.
Esh Construction has won the £6.7 million contract to enhance highway access to the International Advanced Manufacturing Park (IAMP) located in Sunderland. This significant development is a joint initiative between Sunderland and South Tyneside Councils, aimed at fostering advanced manufacturing opportunities and economic expansion within the region. The construction work involves improving the existing infrastructure between the A1290/A19 junction and the southern entrance of International Drive.
Steven Garrigan, Esh’s divisional director, expressed pride in continuing their work from the initial infrastructure completion in 2020. This project builds on Esh’s prior successes, setting the stage for Sunderland and South Tyneside to become a hub for advanced manufacturing and job creation. The construction efforts will focus on turning the current single carriageway into a dual carriageway, set to improve transport links and support economic growth.
The project is cleverly divided into three main construction zones to reduce the need for lane closures and temporary traffic lights, ensuring that disruptions to motorists are kept to a minimum. A significant portion of the 1,550-metre carriageway will be constructed off-road before integrating it with the existing road setup. Accompanying this, there will be substantial drainage works, the erection of new street lighting, traffic signals, pedestrian crossings, and comprehensive landscaping.
Scheduled for completion by summer 2025, the new dual carriageway will provide critical connectivity from the northern part of the IAMP site to planned developments, including a forthcoming gigafactory. This infrastructure is seen as pivotal in enhancing the appeal of the site to key automotive and advanced manufacturing businesses, as highlighted by Sunderland City Council leader, Cllr Michael Mordey. This venture not only boosts transportation infrastructure but also solidifies the site’s status as a strategic asset within the North East Investment Zone.
The successful development at IAMP stands to significantly enhance regional infrastructure and boost economic prospects.
