Tyne Tunnel reopens after year of weekend closures

The northbound Tyne Tunnel has reopened fully after work began last year

The Tyne Tunnel has now fully reopened after one of its sections was closed for more than a year.

The northbound carriageway, which connects North Tyneside and South Tyneside, has been undergoing maintenance each weekend since June last year.

Work was initially expected to finish in March but ran over schedule, which caused additional congestion for drivers.

Operator Tyne Tunnels confirmed the work had now ended and said "normal weekend operations have resumed with both tunnels available".

"Thank you to all our customers for your patience and understanding while this essential maintenance took place to ensure that the Tyne Tunnels remain a reliable, safe and efficient route across the Tyne," a company spokesperson said.

"While weekend closures are over, some overnight maintenance may continue during off-peak hours."

During the work, the northbound route was closed at 20:00 every Friday and reopened on Mondays at 06:00.

The closure has added to congestion problems in the region, which have been heightened due to the ongoing repair work on the Tyne Bridge.