Businesses’ concern as bridge work starts

CALLS TO OPEN BUS LANE TO EASE ROAD DELAYS

Tom Wood, outside his air conditioning business Acrol in Gateshead. Inset: scaffolding on the Tyne Bridge as restoration work gets under way

TYNESIDE businesses have told of their fears when work starts to refurbish the Tyne Bridge next week.

Owners are worried that the long-awaited restoration of the iconic Tyneside landmark will cause traffic chaos when two of the bridge’s four lanes of traffic close for at least two years.

The work comes after a long battle to secure the funding to return the crossing to its former glory, but drivers have been warned to expect significant delays of up to 40 minutes at peak hours and major traffic queues on all surrounding routes. While council bosses have urged people to change their usual journeys or switch to public transport, firms based on business parks around the Gateshead riverside have said that they will have no choice but to endure the congestion.

Tom Wood, whose Acrol building and air conditioning businesses are based in Saltmeadows Road, claimed that local authorities “don’t seem to be doing anything” to avoid gridlock in the area, and suggested that the South Shore Road bus lane should be opened up to all vehicles.

Mr Wood told The Chronicle: “They have made a mess of the roads around here and they are going to leave it a mess during the works. What they need to do is listen to people who have to drive on these roads.

“They are burying their heads in the sand if they think people will just abandon their cars and go onto buses and trains.

“My workers and I, who are driving vans and trucks, can’t just hop on a bus. At times our road already looks like a car park.

“To alleviate what is going to happen they should be opening up the High Level Bridge and they should open up all the approaches on both sides of the Swing Bridge. Those two things would help.”

Gateshead Council said that it has “no plans” to open up the South Shore Road bus lane and would be doing “all we can to ensure bus services can keep operating effectively”.

The High Level Bridge, which is also undergoing repairs, has only had a southbound bus and taxi lane in operation since it was reopened in 2008.

Laurence Rooney, of Rooney’s Scrap Merchants, said that past closures of the Tyne Bridge had left him unable to get out of his South Shore Road yard.

He said: “I already plan my days so that I go down to Tyne Dock first in the morning because the traffic isn’t as bad there, then with the companies I deal with in Newcastle I go at dinner time or in the afternoon – but it has to be before 4pm.

“That is what the traffic is already like now. It is going to be absolutely crazy with the standing traffic.”

Mitigation measures put in place during the Tyne Bridge works include a new park and ride site at the Metrocentre’s staff and coach car park, which is due to open next Tuesday to coincide with the start of the bridge works.

Pamela Holmes, Newcastle City Council’s assistant director for transport, said: “These vital works are needed to preserve the iconic structure for future generations.

“While we have put mitigation measures in place ... we recognise that there will be disruption to the travelling public. Public transport will be key and we have worked closely with bus operators and Nexus, as well as carried out lots of engagement with people, businesses and employers in the runup to the works starting, to help ease congestion.

Stephen Patterson, chief executive of Newcastle business improvement district company NE1 Ltd, said the city “remains open for business”.

He said: “We hope the disruption will be kept to a minimum as the public has been kept well informed of the work.”