Hope that new £6m junction in Stockton will boost business at south end of high street

New junction represents the single biggest infrastructure investment in the £57m Tees Valley Bus Network Improvement (TVBNI) project

Shops and businesses at the south end of Stockton high street are hoping to reap the benefits of the new St John’s Crossing junction.

The £6m scheme saw the replacement of the existing junction which involved removing a roundabout and installing two new linked signal-controlled junctions in its place.

Vicky Pepper, owner of Dec-a-cake, a cake decoration shop which relocated to new larger premises at the south end of the high street last year, is pleased with the changes.

“The new junction is making it a lot easier for people to access the town’s car parks and the southern end of the high street looks fantastic now that the works are complete,” she said.

“My shop is in a prime position now so I’m confident trade is going to get better and better.”

Manager of the Castlegate Centre Karen Eve added: “The new junction has vastly improved the southern gateway in to Stockton, complementing the on-going regeneration of the town and making it easier to access parking and shopping facilities.”

Joanna Wake, from Stockton’s Town Team, added: “Last year more than 50 new businesses expanded, relocated or established themselves in Stockton town centre.

“The improved access created by St John’s Crossing will help ensure their customers can get to them quickly and easily which is another plus for their long-term sustainability within our quickly transforming town centre.”

Work is also under way to create a car park at the north end of the high street on the former Lindsay House site.

The new junction represents the single biggest infrastructure investment in the £57m Tees Valley Bus Network Improvement (TVBNI) project.

Acting operations manager at Arriva Stockton, Mark Gibbon, said St John’s Crossing has led to an improvement in journey times during peak periods.

“It has on the whole improved safety as there was a lot of rushing to find gaps when entering the old roundabout,” he said.

“Our drivers are happy as the bus lanes give the buses priority and stop the delays we used to encounter at the busiest times of the day.”

The Tees Valley Bus Network Improvement (TVBNI) project includes £38m contribution from the Department for Transport.

A sculpture of the Locomotion No 1, the first train to travel along the Stockton-Darlington Railway, has been installed next to the new junction.

The sculpture, created by artist Steve Tomlinson, was officially unveiled on September 27 last year – the 188th anniversary of the first passenger rail journey.