Inspections of Newcastle’s Central Motorway kick off following the recent Gateshead Flyover closure, aiming to ensure road safety and infrastructure integrity.
Newcastle: Inspections are starting on the Central Motorway. This comes right after the Gateshead Flyover was closed due to safety issues. The flyover has been shut since mid-December, and it looks like it might be demolished.
Engineers are checking the A167 on the Newcastle side of the Tyne. They want to make sure everything is safe. The inspections are part of a big £41.4 million project to restore both the Tyne Bridge and the Central Motorway.
These checks will look at the condition of the 1970s concrete viaduct. It runs from the Great North Road to the New Bridge Street roundabout. The inspections will take about 10 weeks and will cause some lane closures and overnight shutdowns.
After the inspections, major maintenance will start this summer. This includes waterproofing and concrete repairs, which could take 18 to 24 months. The state of the Central Motorway has been under the spotlight since the Gateshead Flyover issues came to light.
Council member Juna Sathian said these inspections are crucial for keeping the city moving. It’s the first major upgrade in over 20 years, and they want to ensure the infrastructure is strong.
They’re trying to keep disruptions to a minimum, but they ask everyone to plan ahead. The first inspections began on January 13, with lane closures on the A167 until January 24.
Then, from January 27, there will be four weeks of overnight closures on the southbound side of the Central Motorway. More closures will happen on the Great North Road starting February 24.
About £9 million of the funding for the Tyne Bridge and Central Motorway work is going to the motorway. This is less than expected due to rising costs. The Government still hasn’t confirmed the final £6 million promised for the project.
