The Park Lane roundabout is to be closed until 6am, Gateshead Council said
Sections of the Gateshead Flyover, including Park Lane Roundabout, will be closed over night next week (Image: Gateshead Council )
Gateshead Council has been forced to close the Park Lane roundabout beneath the Gateshead Flyover. This will, as it stands, last until 6am until Wednesday morning and comes after “debris” on the road was reported while a driver also informed the council of damage to the roof of their car.
Significant diversions are in place. A planned closure of the Tyne Bridge was already planned to take effect from 8pm in order for the Great North Run signage to be removed. From that time, all cross-river traffic will be diverted.
The Gateshead Flyover itself – the A167 – has been closed since December last year, when an inspection by structural engineers indicated a potential risk to safety. The new closure – at the Park Lane roundabout which is at the junction of the A167 and the A184 Felling Bypass – began at 6pm.
Council engineers are now carrying out and inspection of the flyover directly above the roundabout. What the council called a “small amount of debris” was found on the road on Tuesday afternoon, following an incident which saw a driver report damage to the roof of their vehicle.
The council said it “recognises the need to be cautious in checking the edging of the flyover to ensure no repeat of this incident”. As reported by ChronicleLive, in August the adjacent Five Bridges Skate Park – also under the flyover – was closed indefinitely over fears about loose concrete.
On Tuesday evening, Anneliese Hutchinson, strategic director for economy innovation and growth at Gateshead Council, said: “We recognise this closure is going to be disruptive at a busy time of day, and apologise to drivers and other road users who are affected, but safety has to come first.
“We have inspected the condition of the flyover on a regular basis throughout the period it has been closed to traffic, just as we did when it was in use – and indeed it was one of those inspections which led to the flyover’s closure last December.”
She said a survey had taken place in August and added: “The most recent ‘survey was completed only last month, to check on the condition of the concrete above the Park Lane roundabout, Sunderland Road bus lane and the Bellevue (Five Bridges) Roundabout. We know this structure needs to come down as soon as possible and we are working hard to get the demolition programme finalised soon.”
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Diversions in place
The council has stated that the diversions in place are as follows:
Northbound Newcastle-bound traffic will be diverted off the A184 at the Heworth interchange to take the B1426 Sunderland Road, then Arthur Street and Prince Consort Road past the Civic Centre, then down A184 West Central Route and along Askew Road to the Redheugh Bridge.
Southbound traffic, prior the 8pm, from the Tyne Bridge will be diverted to use Hawks Road and Quays Boulevarde before rejoining the A184 Felling bypass at the Albany Road junction. From 8pm when the Tyne Bridge closes, all cross river traffic will be asked to use the same diversion via the Redheugh Bridge, Askew Road and West Central Route.
The council added: Other local diversions will be signposted as appropriate. Drivers are asked to be patient and allow more time for their journeys.”
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