Council defends bridge closure amid delays

Journey times have increased by up to an hour following the Newport Bridge closure

The seven-week closure of a busy road bridge is "absolutely essential", a council has said, amid heavy tailbacks caused by maintenance work on the 90-year-old structure.

Work started on Monday on Newport Bridge, which connects Middlesbrough with Stockton over the River Tees.

The A1032 is closed for the duration of the work from Newport roundabout to Portrack interchange with some motorists reporting an increase in journey times of about an hour.

Councillor Clare Gamble, of Stockton Borough Council, said the "complex" nature of the work meant the closure of the bridge was the "only option" to protect public safety.

Diversions in place

Ms Gamble told BBC Radio Tees: "This work is absolutely essential in order to be able to keep using it.

"We're trying to minimise disruption as much as we can, but unfortunately some will be inevitable.

"For the last two days it has been exacerbated by incidents on the A19 - a collision and a broken-down vehicle."

Ms Gamble added it had not been possible to fit all the work needed into the period covered by school holidays when traffic levels were expected to drop slightly.

"It's a seven-week programme and schools don't break up until the end of next week," she said.

The work has been described as "complex"

The bridge is due to re-open on 1 September.

Until then, motorists and other bridge users have been advised to follow diversion signs during the closure.

Those travelling from Portrack interchange should follow the diversion on to the A19 southbound.

Drivers will need to exit towards the A66 eastbound for Middlesbrough, then exit the A66 to Newport roundabout.

Traffic from Newport roundabout will follow a reverse route.