Earlier this month, inspectors raised serious concerns about a concrete supporting pillar that holds up the A167 flyover in Gateshead. The road has had to be shut, and Metro services, which run underneath the bridge, were suspended over safety concerns.
Now, North East Mayor Kim McGuinness has promised immediate action on Gateshead Flyover to get Metro trains running again as soon as possible and then to find a permanent solution to a problem which has caused major disruption to road and rail in the region.
She has pledged to use regional resources to combat disruption, saying the region could “not afford to wait” for government funding.
This follows an urgent meeting between local leaders and Secretary of State for Transport Heidi Alexander to discuss both a short-term repair to make the structure safe and a long-term plan which will see the flyover demolished and a new road layout put in place.
Kim McGuinness said: “I met Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander along with the local MP Mark Ferguson and Gateshead Council leader Martin Gannon this evening and she understands that this is not just a regional issue but has real national significance and that an urgent fix is critical.”
“The permanent solution is not just to demolish the flyover, but to redesign the road network as well. There’s no route to delivering all of this without some Government funding and we have agreed to continue this discussion, but we can’t afford to wait for that.
“We are willing to use regional resources for the demolition to take place as soon as Gateshead can put a plan in place.”
It is expected that Metro services crossing the River Tyne will stay off until the New Year when the bridge can be reinforced with slats. The A167 flyover may never be able to reopen.
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Until December 13, the flyover served as a major traffic artery for up to 40,000 vehicles a day, the BBC reports.
Operator Nexus described the situation as “one of the biggest operational challenges” faced in the history of the Tyne and Wear Metro.
The subsequent impact on footfall in some areas has also caused a drop in trade, according to business improvement district NE1.
