Gateshead Council respond to calls to reopen Askew Road
Council officers say they are continuing to monitor traffic levels and review the diversions in place following the closure of the A167 flyover.
Council officers say they are are continuing to monitor traffic levels and review the diversions in place following the closure of the A167 flyover.
We're told that although there have been some queues, the traffic build up has not been as heavy as expected. This indicates that the current diversions are working well, alongside commuters following advice to avoid travelling at peak times, use public transport and take alternative routes wherever possible.
The council will continue to monitor the situation and all options will be kept under review. However, there are currently no plans to reopen the Askew Road bus lane to other vehicles as traffic monitoring suggests that this would actually increase congestion.
Colin Swinney, Service Director for Highways and Waste, explained:
“The traffic lights at the eastern end of Askew Road are automated to only turn green when buses are waiting. This keeps A167 traffic flowing on the approach to the Tyne Bridge for the majority of the time.
“Reopening this part of Askew Road to cars and other vehicles would mean increasing the duration of green light phases, which in turn would extend the duration of red light phases on the A167.
“As the majority of traffic heading for the Tyne Bridge comes from the east and the south, we would expect this to mean queues along the Felling Bypass and back to the stadium. It would also make it more difficult for buses to have a quick onward journey into Newcastle and keep to timetable, at a time when bus travel is particularly crucial for keeping the network moving.
“It has also been suggested that the closure of Askew Road to private vehicles has put more pressure on the flyover and sped up its deterioration. This is not the case. We have actually seen a marked reduction in vehicles travelling along the top deck of the flyover since 2019.”
The whole of the flyover remains closed for safety reasons. Part of the road beneath it, between the Park Lane roundabout (junction with A184 Felling bypass) and the Five Bridges roundabout (junction with B1426 Sunderland Road, is also closed to all traffic and pedestrians.
Colin concluded:
“We have put safety fencing in place around the whole of the concrete structure of the flyover while it is out of use.
“Our team on site are doing all they can to secure the fencing - it is there to protect people and we would urge pedestrians to respect the boundary, and take a short diversion to use the open paths at the north or south end of the fencing.
“We need to keep people safe – if you see anybody tampering with the safety fence, or trying to climb over, please report it.”
Businesses in Gateshead town centre are open as usual, with visitors encouraged to use public transport and alternative routes wherever they can.
More information on the emergency closure, including diversion routes and advice for travellers, is available online.