Date set for doomed flyover demolition

1 hour ago

News image — Serious structural problems were identified in 2024 leading to the flyover's closure

BBC A man in orange hi-vis overalls and white hard-hat stands on a road under a concrete road bridge near traffic cones and yellow demolition equipment. Other, similarly dressed, workers are in the distance. — Serious structural problems were identified in 2024 leading to the flyover's closure

Demolition of a crumbling town centre flyover will start next month, it has been confirmed.

The A167 Gateshead Highway flyover, which dates to the 1960s, was suddenly closed in December 2024 due to safety concerns. It led to traffic problems and the temporary closure of part of the Tyne & Wear Metro which runs underneath the structure.

Businesses in the town have said repeated delays in starting the demolition has caused a loss of trade.

Gateshead Council said the demolition has been "carefully designed" but it is likely to take until at least October to complete, with further works continuing to the second anniversary of the closure.

The flyover formed part of one of the main transport links in the region and carried about 40,000 vehicles a day.

Earlier this month dozens of heavy duty steel props were built to support the weight of the structure during its demolition.

The props will take the weight while machines gradually eat away at the concrete and cut through its steel tendons.

Gateshead Council leader Martin Gannon wears a white hard hat and yellow hi-vis coat while standing on the deserted flyover in Gateshead. — Council leader Martin Gannon believes the cleared site will be an "attractive" development opportunity

Scott Beattie, operations manager at civil engineering firm BAM, said it was a "complex" way of taking the structure down.

"There are lots of steel wires running through the structure that are under strain," he said.

"They were tensioned up when it was constructed, sort of like a stretched elastic band.

"So when we start the demolition and cut through those, the bridge is weakened.

"The props are there to support the structure as we start the demolition.

"We're going to be finished about October time with the main demolition and then there's going to be other works that continue beyond that which will take us to December."

Disruption expected

Metro lines are unlikely to be affected by the work, but monitoring equipment has been installed in the tunnels to detect potential movement.

Anneliese Hutchinson, strategic director of economy and innovation at Gateshead Council, said: "Obviously, this is big construction work and it will cause some disruption.

"We are doing everything we can to minimise that. For example, there are two shifts of work on a daily basis to try and make sure that we do things as quickly as we possibly can."

There are hopes that removing the flyover will pave the way for a significant regeneration of the surrounding town centre.

Gateshead Council leader Martin Gannon said: "Once the flyover is down, this site becomes a really attractive development opportunity."

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