We've got the answers to key questions about the planned works to imporve the A1 near Birtley.
More detailed plans for multi-million pound improvements to the A1 near Birtley have been announced.
A section of the busy road between junction 67 at Coal House and junction 65 near Birtley is set to be widened.
Highways England said the scheme, which will cost anywhere between £250m and 3350m, could get under way in three years.
Here, we take a look at what impact the A1 between Birtley and Coal House from junctions 65 and 67.
What is happening ?
Highways England has outlined plans to improve the A1 between Birtley and Coal House from junctions 65 to 67.
It comes after work was completed in July last year to turn the A1 into a three-lane carriageway between Coal House and the Metro Centre.
The agency now wants to extend the expansion in 2020.
What will the work involve ?
Highways England will create a three-lane carriageway on the A1 between the two junctions.
Additional lanes will be provided between the junctions to help manage traffic joining and leaving the A1.
And modifications will be made to the existing structures at both junctions to accommodate the additional lanes.
Meanwhile, the Allerdene Railway Bridge, which carries the A1 over the East Coast railway line, will be reconstructured south of its current location.
The Smithy Lane Bridge would also be replaced by the agency.
Why is it needed and how much will it cost ?
If you've ever driven between the two junctions, especially in rush hour, then you'll know all about it.
It is often reported that this section of the A1 suffers congestion, which can result in unreliable journey times.
And there are fears that this will only get worse with the new housing and employment developments planned for the area.
Project manager Nicola Wilkies said: "The scheme will provide additional lanes to increase capacity at this location and improve journey time reliability and reduce congestion.
"The improvements will also help economic growth by improving the road to the Tyneside area, while supporting the Government's initiative for growth in the North East."
Highways England said the scheme could cost anywhere between £250m and £350m.
So what happens next ?
The agency will go back and develop a more detailed design of the plans.
They will then hold further consultation events in the winter to gather some more feedback from motorists.
When will the work start and how long will it last ?
Construction of the scheme is planned to start by March 2020 and could take 36 months to complete.
What will it mean for drivers ?
Unfortunately, the roadworks are going to cause some disruption.
Mrs Wilkes previously said Highways England is sympathetic to motorists who are set to face delays on the A1 while the work is carried out.
She said: "It's similar to what we've done with Coal House to the Metro Centre. By making improvements to the road we are going ot help the North East with its overall development.
"It's a regional route, there's a lot of regional traffic. What this scheme is doing is alleviating a lot of problems for local traffic."
Are there any other roadworks I should be aware of ?
Yes, the agency is planning to trasnform the A1 between junction 74 at Scotswood and junction 79 at North Brunton into a three-lane road.
Like the work on the Gateshead Bypass section of the road, completed just over a year ago, this will give the road an extra lane.
Travel on these narrower lanes will be limited to 50mph.
The work is expected to begin in March 2020 and could take two years to complete.