Spring in step for pedestrian tunnel
AFTER FIVE YEARS, DATE SET FOR COMPLETION OF WORK
THE Tyne Pedestrian and Cyclist Tunnel is on course to re-open in spring 2018 after five years of refurbishment work.
Renovations to the grade-II listed tunnel, which connects Howdon in North Tyneside to Jarrow in South Tyneside, got under way in May 2013.
A report due to be discussed by the North East Combined Authority (NECA) reveals work to get it up and running again “continues to make good progress”.
The report goes on to say: “At this time, it is envisaged that the works will be completed in the spring of 2018.”
It will come as a relief to people who use the route regularly after repeated delays have pushed back the completion date.
The discovery of asbestos slowed down progress and the original contractors, GB Building Solutions, went into administration midway through the work, further hampering progress.
With NECA due to discuss the progress of the project when they meet later this week, the report comes as a clear sign that people who depend on the tunnel won’t have to wait too much longer.
The main part of the £6.9m round of work will be to replace the old escalators, which were at one time the longest in Europe.
Health and safety regulations issued in the aftermath of the Kings Cross fire and similar tragedies meant they had to be replaced with a safer mode of transport.
Instead, there’ll be an “inclined lift” which will lower passengers down the slope in a glass compartment.
Work is also progressing to repair and upgrade the steel and concrete structure and to apply coating and injections to the walls to prevent leaks.
The tunnel will also get a total facelift, with new tiling and painting throughout.
Opened on July 24, 1951, the tunnel was meant as a contribution to the Festival Of Britain celebrations that year.
Costing £833,000 to construct, it was the first purpose-built cycle tunnel in the UK, and was the earliest to be used by both cyclists and pedestrians.