Work under way to prop up dangerous flyover

Gateshead Council says work is under way to try and allow Metros to start operating again

Work to prop up part of a dangerous flyover has begun, a council has confirmed.

Gateshead Highway closed suddenly on 13 December after investigations judged the 1960s structure to be unsafe.

Metro services between Monument and Heworth, which run in tunnels under the flyover, were also suspended and replaced by buses.

Gateshead Council said workers were on site to place props around a pillar directly over the tunnel, and they were working with Nexus to reopen Metro services "as soon as possible".

'Significant effort'

It said the installation of the props was expected to take four days.

Council chief executive Dale Owens said a working party would be set up to co-ordinate the planning and funding of the flyover's demolition, as well as the construction of a replacement road.

He said: "We now have a timeline we are working towards around getting the propping in place, which in turn should expedite a resolution to the current transport issues."

Mr Owens added meetings had been taking place with the North East Combined Authority, the Department for Transport and other stakeholders.

He said: "A lot of what we do behind the scenes is often largely unseen by the public, but I can assure people getting to this stage has required significant effort on our part and my thanks go to everyone who has worked around the clock to make this happen."

Metro operator Nexus said it would continue to suspend services between Monument and Heworth until at least 31 December.

However, a spokesperson said even after the line reopened it may not operate a full timetable because "stranded" trains, which have been running on the south side of the River Tyne, would "require some maintenance and repair".

Nexus said it would provide a further update on Monday.