Teesside's Newport Bridge reopens during £4m refit

A deep clean of the bridge revealed 50,000m of badly corroded metal

A Grade II listed bridge undergoing repairs totalling £4m has reopened to vehicles.

A tunnel-style scaffold is enabling motorists to use the Newport Bridge linking Stockton and Middlesbrough while repainting continues.

Stockton Council initially estimated fixing the 80-year-old bridge across the River Tees would cost £1.6m.

But that figure more than doubled after corrosion was found to be more severe than first thought.

A weight limit will be in place throughout the works, preventing use by some heavy goods vehicles.

Work began in July and caused tailbacks and traffic jams on the A19 southbound and the A66 as drivers used alternative routes.