Tunnel restoration costs exceed £18m

The refurbishment of the crossing between Jarrow and Howdon started more than a decade ago

The cost of the restoration of a Grade II listed tunnel was more than £11m higher than planned.

The refurbishment of the Tyne Pedestrian and Cyclist Tunnel took more than a decade to complete after the project suffered multiple setbacks.

Transport bosses have now confirmed the final bill for the revamp of the 1950s tunnel under the River Tyne came in at £18.2m, significantly more than the initial expected cost of £6.9m.

A spokesperson for the North East Combined Authority (NECA) said the refurbishment was "long and complex" due to challenges including the original lift contractor going into administration and the impact of the pandemic.

The final stage of the works was completed 12 months ago, when two bespoke lifts were finally unveiled to the public.

NECA said the upgraded tunnels provided "improved walking and cycling infrastructure"

The tunnels, which connect Jarrow, in South Tyneside, and Howdon, in North Tyneside, closed for the start of the refurbishment in May 2013.

It was earmarked for completion in 2015, but the discovery of asbestos and the main contractor GB Building Solutions going bust meant they did not reopen to the public until 2019.

Following the creation of the North East mayor in 2024, the tunnels are now owned and managed by NECA.

The spokesperson for NECA told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "The refurbishment was a long and complex project, originally initiated by the Tyne and Wear Integrated Transport Authority before it ceased to exist in 2014 ."

They said the upgraded tunnels now provided "improved walking and cycling infrastructure" to connect both sides of the River Tyne, making them "fully accessible for a wide range of users".