A1 closures extended after void found near road

A 4m (13ft) void was uncovered by engineers near to the A1

Drivers are being warned that emergency lane closures on a major road will continue over the bank holiday weekend after a "void" was found in a verge.

A section of the A1 in Gateshead was closed on Wednesday and Thursday night after engineers found issues with mine workings in the area.

The void, which was 4m (13ft) deep and 1.5m (5ft) wide, was found near the junction 65 exit slip near Birtley.

National Highways said the repair work would "continue into next week" and was necessary to "keep everybody safe".

The void was uncovered by engineers working on the Birtley to Coal House scheme, which is aiming to reduce congestion by widening the motorway. The void has since been backfilled and made safe.

"The closures are necessary to keep everybody safe while we investigate the area to ensure it remains safe and find a permanent fix for this issue as soon as we can," said National Highways project manager Helen Burrow.

"We’re continuing to carry out further exploratory work and, at the moment, anticipate that the repairs will continue into next week."

A1 road closures

Ms Burrow said drivers may wish to avoid the area and allow extra time to travel.

The road was initially closed on the A1 southbound between junctions 68 (Lobley Hill) and 65 (Birtley).

The same section of the road will be closed overnight. Traffic will be diverted away from the A1 at junction 69.

Further overnight closures will take place southbound between junctions 66 (Eighton Lodge) and 65 on Saturday, Sunday and Monday night.

During the day, the southbound carriageway will be reduced to one lane between junctions 66 and just past 65 exit slip into next week.

The junction 65 southbound exit slip will remain closed, meaning there will be no access to the A1231 from the A1 southbound. Non-motorway traffic is being diverted to leave the A1 at junction 66.