Coast works to cross major bridge

Reporter WORK to build a new bridge in North Shields will reach a major milestone this weekend.

Most of the old Norham Road Bridge, which runs across the A1058 Coast Road, was knocked down last year. However a small passageway, for pedestrians and cyclists, was left.

Now the remaining section will be demolished over this weekend.

Work began at 8pm last night and is scheduled to complete by 6am on Monday.

During this time, the Coast Road will be closed beneath the bridge and traffic will be directed “up and down” the slip roads in each direction.

Additional temporary lane restrictions will also be introduced on both the eastbound and westbound carriageways of the Coast Road beyond the immediate bridge area.

However, access to Norham Road will be maintained throughout.

The bridge demolition was originally planned for last weekend however it had to be postponed because of the severe weather brought by the ‘Beast from the East.’

North Tyneside Council says although this work has been carefully planned to minimise disruption, people are advised to expect some minor delays to journey times.

A spokesman added: “We are very pleased to be entering the final stage of this very important project and we thank people once again for their patience during the work.

“Bridge demolition work will begin in the early hours of Saturday morning and should be finished by midnight on the same day.

“Although the demolition work will be nowhere like as extensive as that carried out last July, when most of the old bridge came down, it will nevertheless be noisy and we apologise to residents living nearby for any disruption and inconvenience caused.

“On Sunday, the contractors will clear and remove all of the demolition debris. They will also re-install safety barriers, re-instate road markings, and remove the temporary traffic management measures in readiness for reopening the Coast Road to traffic in the early hours of Monday morning.”

Pedestrian and cycle access across the Coast Road will remain uninterrupted throughout the work. They will be able to use a newly-created route on the eastern side of the bridge.

Once the whole project is complete in the summer, the new bridge will have four lanes and there will also be traffic lights at both slip road junctions.