Bank Holiday delays as bridge set to close
DIVERSIONS IN PLACE FOR MAJOR WORK ON CROSSING
DRIVERS are being warned to expect delays over the Bank Holiday weekend as major work takes place on a new bridge in North Shields.
The A1058 Coast Road will be closed beneath Norham Road Bridge from 8pm on Friday until Sunday afternoon.
During this time, diversions will be put in place up and down the slip roads.
The closure is taking place so new concrete beams can be delivered and installed on the western part of the bridge.
As a result, motorists heading to and from the coast are set to experience delays in the area.
A spokesman from North Tyneside Council said: “We appreciate that this work is planned for part of the Bank Holiday weekend but, even if the weather turns out to be uncharacteristically good and encourages more visits to the coast, we know that weekends and Bank Holidays are generally quieter on the Coast Road than during the working week.
“On average there are 40,000 journeys a day, Monday to Friday, on this part of the Coast Road. This drops to 30,000 a day at weekends and Bank Holidays. Pedestrian and cycle access across the bridge will be maintained throughout.”
Once the beams have been installed, the next step will be to pour concrete between the beams to create the remaining part of the new bridge road deck. This is expected to be done in mid-May and further information about this will be provided in due course.
Over recent weeks, work on the central bridge pier has been completed and contractors are now working on the construction of the bridge abutments and wing walls.
The majority of the work on the footpaths is also finished.
As part of the scheme, the old Norham Road bridge was demolished as it was more than 50 years old and needed urgent attention.
The new crossing being built in its place will have four lanes and traffic lights at both slip road junctions.
The project is expected to finish in the summer.