A1231 road
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| Route information | |
| Length: | 9.0 mi (14.5 km) |
| Major junctions | |
| East end: | A1018, Sunderland |
 A1018 road A690 road A183 road A19 road A1 road | |
| West end: | A1, Washington |
| Location | |
| Primary destinations: |
Sunderland Washington |
| Road network | |
The A1231 road connects Sunderland and Washington in Tyne and Wear, North East England. It is the main road connecting these towns and is one of the main roads giving access to Sunderland city centre. The total length of the road is approximately 9 miles (14 km).
South Sunderland
The A1231 originates as a single carriageway at the 'Whitehouse Road' / 'Addison Road' roundabout junction with the A1018 'Commercial Road' in Hendon. It then runs via the 'Esplanade' gyratory on the southern edge of Mowbray Park, just south of the city centre, to an intersection with 'Ryhope Road', which is the main road to the south of the city.
Then, as 'Stockton Road', the A1231 heads north, past the Park Lane Interchange and toward the 'Priestman Roundabout' which is the end-point of the A690 road, the main trunk road to the south-west of the city and Durham.
Immediately north of 'Priestman', the A1231 is a dual carriageway named 'St. Michael's Way', part of which it shares with the A183 road to the 'Livingstone Road' / 'Silksworth Row' roundabout.
The A1231 then leads north west as 'Silksworth Row' then past a retail park as 'Trimdon Street'; and past Corning Glass Works as 'Pallion New Road', before reaching the south end of Queen Alexandra Bridge to cross the Wear.
North Sunderland
The A1231 becomes a national speed limit dual carriageway 'Wessington Way' passing through the southern edge of Southwick, Castletown and Hylton Castle. To the south, the Hylton Riverside retail park is parallel to the road. Along this section a park and ride scheme operates on matchdays for visitors to the Stadium of Light.
Washington
The road passes over the A19 and heads west toward Washington as the 'Sunderland Highway'. Just past the A19, the A1231 runs along the southern edge of the Nissan car plant. The A1231 crosses the A182 'Washington Highway' as it passes the 'Galleries' Washington town centre.
The A1231 terminates as a feeder to the north-bound A1 north west of Birtley.
Despite being designated a primary route, Sunderland City Council deem it necessary to close this section of the road on several Sundays each summer for 'essential maintenance'. Other main roads in the town such as the A182 and A195 are maintained without needing to be closed. It may be the most frequently closed road in England.
A roads in Zone 1 of the Great Britain road numbering scheme | ||
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Coordinates: 54°54′28″N 1°27′32″W / 54.90778°N 1.45889°W