More work to prop up flyover 'but no reopening'

The flyover has been closed since the mid-December

More work to further prop up a dangerous flyover will not allow it reopen.

Gateshead Council said the work, due to take place later this month, will further fortify the route but would be an "interim solution to ensure the Metro can keep running in the tunnels beneath the structure" .

The flyover shut suddenly on 13 December due to major concerns about one of its supporting concrete pillars.

Engineers will use new concrete to encase two of the flyover's pillars, after which the temporary support structure installed in December, will be removed.

The closure plunged the wider region into travel chaos when Tyne and Wear Metro services running underneath the 1960s structure had to be suspended for almost two weeks.

This was because of fears that it could collapse, before a temporary propping measure was installed just before the new year.

The local authority said the latest work would not allow traffic to return to the flyover or the road beneath it, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Bus lane closure

On Tuesday the council said it was still "considering how and when" it could reopen the Sunderland Road bus lane which is currently fenced off.

It added that "work is progressing to check on the condition of the concrete above the bus lane, and if any concrete side panels need to be removed".

Council leader Martin Gannon said: "Everything we do is based on a safety first approach.

"So while everyone would like to see more routes open and to move quickly to demolition, we need to ensure we move step-by-step to do things safely and properly."

New road layout

Council bosses said they wanted to eventually demolish the flyover and reconfigure the road network around Gateshead town centre.

Plans to remove it and build a tree-lined boulevard in its place have been touted since 2008.

Past estimates suggested the cost would be between £13m and £74m, depending on the extent of the regeneration works.

North East mayor Kim McGuinness has said she is willing to commit regional funding for the demolition of the flyover, but warned wider redevelopment will require government cash.