UK-based concession company TT2 has completed the £260m Tyne crossing project under the River Tyne in England.

The project involved building a new tunnel as well as revamping the original Tyne tunnel, which was opened in 1967.

Work on the new tunnel started four years ago and was completed in February 2011, while refurbishment of the first road tunnel was completed this month, two weeks ahead of schedule.

The refurbishment of the old road tunnel involved construction of a separate clean air escape passage for pedestrians and the installation of fire safety technology.

The new tunnel has two lanes for southbound traffic while the older tunnel will provide two lanes for northbound traffic.

Both tunnels will connect the A19 in East Howdon north of the Tyne with the A19 through Jarrow in the south and are set to ease congestion.

The project was carried out by TT2 consortium, comprising of Bouygues Travaux Publics (Bouygues), HSBC Infrastructure Fund Management and the Bank of Scotland.