The long-awaited restoration of the rusted Tyne Bridge is finally under way and drivers have had their first experience this week of the disruption that the region’s roads will be hit with over the coming years.
Having been in dire need of a facelift for several years now, the bridge’s refurbishment is expected to take until 2028 to complete. The vast, four-year renovation project is going to have a major impact on everyday life on Tyneside and motorists have been urged to make alternative travel plans.
Transport bosses are asking car drivers to switch to the bus, Metro, walking, or cycling to try and reduce congestion during the works – or, if they have to drive, to avoid the city centre if possible, and use the A1 or Tyne Tunnel to cross the river instead. Thursday, April 4, was the first day of 24/7 restrictions that are reducing the bridge to just one lane in each direction.
- Read More: Major delays as 24/7 Tyne Bridge lane closures come into force – and the worst is yet to come
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Those measures will be in place for at least the next two years, with some further temporary closures needed for the remaining section of the engineering works after that. The prospect of years of traffic chaos around central Newcastle and Gateshead may be a source of frustration for drivers, with the first day of the restrictions marked by heavy delays on the southbound Central Motorway and warnings that the situation will get worse once traffic returns to normal levels after the Easter holidays.
But there are a number of factors that have resulted in the restoration works taking such a long time. It was originally hoped that the project would only take two years, but it emerged after detailed investigations in 2022 that the bridge was in a worse condition than feared – having not undergone significant maintenance for more than 20 years.
As well as a full repaint, the bridge is in need of a large number of structural repairs – including steelwork fixes, waterproofing, and road resurfacing. Council bosses lodged a bid for Government funding to carry out the works in 2019, but it took until February this year for more than £35 million of Department for Transport money to be delivered.
As well as the bridge’s dilapidated state, Tyneside transport officials and contractors Esh have pinpointed a range of other complicating factors surrounding the scheme. They include the fact that the bridge, being one of the busiest roads in the region, must still be kept partially open for both vehicles and foot traffic during the works rather than being completely handed over to Esh.
Engineers are also having to factor in the large colony of kittiwakes that nests on the grade II* listed crossing and minimise the disruption to them. New ‘kittiwake hotels’ have been installed on the new scaffolding around the crossing’s Gateshead tower and the phasing of the refurbishment will have to take account of the sea birds’ breeding seasons.
Contractors will have to work around the annual Great North Run too, which will retain the bridge as a key part of its course during the restoration. Weight restrictions on the bridge also mean that it cannot be fully covered with scaffolding, which will instead have to be installed and gradually moved across the bridge over 20 different phases.
Alastair Swan, principal engineer at Newcastle City Council said: “This is a hugely challenging and complex project which will take around four years to complete, due to the sheer size of the bridge, its age and grade II* listed status, protecting the kittiwake colony from disturbance and the massive scope of work required – which isn’t just the sizeable task of painting it – but a full restoration programme to see the bridge returned to its former glory. As well as managing disruption to traffic on a major gateway to and from the city.
“Detailed inspection work which took place in 2022, has revealed more deterioration than originally anticipated with corrosion of the steel work caused by peeling paintwork, damaged deck joints, leaking drains and damage to the road surface and pavements on the grade II* listed structure, which has also added to the length of the programme.
“To deliver the repairs and strengthening safely, the scaffold will be installed over approximately 20 phases to maintain the integrity of the structure’s load capacity, while keeping the road and a footpath open to traffic and pedestrians throughout the project. These loading constraints result in the programme to complete the restoration being across four years.”
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