Further lane closures begin on city motorway

The closures are expected to be in place for 16 months

Drivers are being warned of heavy congestion at peak times as further lane restrictions begin on a city centre motorway.

The A167(M) Central Motorway in Newcastle has been reduced to one lane in each direction during the daytime, with closures expected to be in place for 16 months.

Separate nearby works on the Tyne Bridge and around the closed Gateshead flyover have left road users frustrated, with one commuter saying her once 25 minute journey now takes up to an hour.

Newcastle Council urged commuters to "plan ahead and use public transport where possible".

Samantha McCarthy, who commutes into the city, said: "It's taking me 45 minutes, sometimes an hour, to get to work in what used to be a 25-min journey - what a mess."

The £9m upgrade works will include repairs to decayed concrete on the elevated viaduct section of the motorway just after traffic exits the Tyne Bridge.

Works started in August with the northbound carriageway reduced to one lane during the day and various overnight closures.

Labour-led Newcastle City Council said those works had a "minimal impact on the travelling public so far".

'Vital works'

Michael Nicholson, who travels from Chester-le-Street, said he was frustrated with local councils' handling of the works.

He said: "Are there any more roads, bridges or tunnels you can close simultaneously to compound our misery, or do you have it pretty much covered?"

The Tyne tunnel only full reopened in August following more than a year of work.

Councillor Juna Sathian, Newcastle Council's cabinet member for climate and transport, said the central motorway works were "vital" and they ensured the city had "robust transport infrastructure on one of the busiest routes".

The road had been used by up to 80,000 vehicles a day.

"With the additional lane closure, heavy congestion is expected at peak times and people are advised to plan ahead, allow more time for your journey and use public transport where possible," the local authority said.

It also said that more overnight closures would be required including on key slip roads.

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