50-year-old bridge is at the end of the road
DEMOLITION ON BUSY ROUTE TO GET UNDER WAY TODAY
MOTORISTS have been warned of a major road closure to allow for the demolition of a road bridge.
The Norham Road bridge in North Shields it to be dismantled, with work starting today.
The 50-year-old bridge, which crosses a section of the Coast Road, was closed to traffic earlier this month and diversions were put in place as preparation work started on the project.
The scheme, due for completion in spring 2018, involves replacing the structure with a new four-lane bridge. New slip road traffic lights will also be installed.
Today the old bridge will be knocked down, with work due to get under way at 8pm.
The job is expected to be completed by 6am on Monday.
During this time, the A1058 Coast Road will be closed beneath the structure and drivers will be diverted up and down the slip roads in either direction.
The footpath across the bridge will be closed while demolition takes place.
A safe diversion will be set up for pedestrians and cyclists, who will use the underpass near the Billy Mill junction to cross the Coast Road.
A spokesman for the council said: “The demolition work will be noisy and the council wishes to apologise to residents living nearby for any disruption and inconvenience caused to them over the weekend.”
The authority is discouraging members of the public from travelling to the area around the bridge to witness the demolition, which is being carried out by contractors Sisk Lagan JV.
The spokesman added: “This is a major industrial site with heavy plant and machinery in use and there is no provision for safe viewing by sightseers.”
The Norham Road project is part of the third and final phase of a £7.2m improvement scheme on the A1058.
The first two phases, involving Beach Road and Billy Mill junction, have been completed.