Letter of the week: Closing A19 Hartlepool crossings is a bridge too far for now

The A19 turn-offs to Elwick and Dalton Piercy are becoming more hazardous due to an ever-increasing traffic volume.
Would you close A19 central reservations near Elwick before a new bypass is built? Our letter writer wouldn't.Would you close A19 central reservations near Elwick before a new bypass is built? Our letter writer wouldn't.
Would you close A19 central reservations near Elwick before a new bypass is built? Our letter writer wouldn't.

However, to close them before a new access bridge is in place is a bit short-sighted (U-turn ban plan for killer Hartlepool stretch of A19).

Look what happened with the University Hospital of Hartlepool, which was closed before the now defunct Wynyard hospital plan had a brick laid.

Would you close A19 central reservations near Elwick before a new bypass is built? Our letter writer wouldn't.Would you close A19 central reservations near Elwick before a new bypass is built? Our letter writer wouldn't.
Would you close A19 central reservations near Elwick before a new bypass is built? Our letter writer wouldn't.
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Just look at the resultant chaos and heartache that has caused!

Since the A19 and A66 have some sections on a 50mph speed limit, it would make sense to spend a small portion of the proposed Hartlepool Western Growth Corridor budget on placing a couple of safety cameras and some 50mph speed limit signs on the stretch of road between, say, the A19 garage and the A179 flyover until such times that a flyover bridge into Elwick, similar to the one built a few years ago close to Swan house and Trenholme Lane further down the A19, can be completed.

There could also be a small road running parallel to the A19 from the Dalton Piercy junction northward to Elwick so that those residents can access the A19 north bound via the new flyover.

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If Hartlepool Borough Council is truly interested in safety on our section of the A19, and not wanting to cause hardship to the village and farming communities then I suggest it seriously considers and implements my speed signage proposal sooner rather than later.

Eric Porritt,Clifton Avenue,Hartlepool.

Last week's Letter of the week: Why Brexit debate needs a People's Vote