Safety improvement work starts outside hospital

Work has started on Queen Victoria Road to install a cycle lane and safer crossing points

A temporary, one-way traffic restriction has been put in place outside a city centre hospital.

The work to install road safety improvements and a cycle lane by the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) on Queen Victoria Road is being carried out by Newcastle City Council.

The authority is urging commuters to allow extra time for their journeys, because it is expected the £3m scheme will take the rest of the year to complete.

A council Facebook post generated more than 100 responses with some calling the scheme "an utter waste of money" while others praised the move for the "investment" in cycling.

Map shows road restrictions in place during work to upgrade Queen Victoria Road

The work means vehicles will only be permitted to travel northbound along Queen Victoria Road, between St Thomas’ Street and Claremont Road.

Two-way traffic will still be permitted on part of Queen Victoria Road, under temporary traffic signals, between Richardson Road and the junction with St Thomas’ Street.

A consultation on the scheme took place between the RVI, Newcastle University, local residents, businesses and road users.

About £1.3m in Government Active Travel Funding was received to cover some of the costs.

Acknowledging some disruption would be unavoidable, a city council spokesperson, said: "It's vital that we continue to invest in better and safer roads."

"The work would help "reduce air pollution and carbon emissions" which have "a damaging impact on both our health and our environment."

A further phase, incorporating the junction at Claremont Road, is expected to follow in 2025.