New drone footage has captured the ongoing demolition of the Gateshead Flyover, showing significant progress as large sections of the concrete highway are reduced to rubble. The work, which began in April after several delays, has now cleared a major portion of the road that once ran above Sunderland Road.
Demolition Milestones
Last month, excavators achieved an early milestone by tearing through the full width of the highway for the first time. The latest aerial footage reveals that the central section of the flyover has been largely cleared, along with the on and off ramps adjacent to the Sunderland Road bus lane. Computer House, located at the corner of Sunderland Road and the High Street, was the first structure to be demolished.
Next Phase: Five Bridges Roundabout
The next stage of the demolition will target the 1960s structure above the Five Bridges roundabout. This will require the closure of Five Bridges (Bellevue) Roundabout for 24 days, from Sunday, June 21, until Wednesday, July 16. Gateshead Council has funded a shuttle bus service for residents affected by the diversion of several Go North East services. Additionally, the bus lane on Durham Road to the west of the roundabout will be temporarily suspended to allow all northbound traffic to reach the town centre.
Future Plans and Timeline
Once the roundabout reopens, demolition work will move to Park Lane roundabout. This comes 18 months after the highway was suddenly closed in December 2024 due to concerns that the crumbling viaduct was at risk of collapse. The full demolition is expected to be completed by October.
The drone footage provides a bird's-eye view of the progress, highlighting the scale of the operation. Gateshead Council continues to manage the project, ensuring minimal disruption to residents and traffic flow.
