One of Tyneside’s busiest junctions will reopen on Friday evening after weeks of closure for the latest phase of the Gateshead Flyover’s demolition. The Park Lane roundabout, which links the Felling Bypass to the Tyne Bridge, has been shut since July 25 to allow crews to tear down the section of the abandoned flyover above it.
Roundabout to Reopen on Schedule
Gateshead Council has confirmed that the roundabout will reopen on schedule, in the evening on Friday, August 21. This stage of the flyover works going as planned also means that next month’s Great North Run will be able to follow its usual route. Council bosses said they had considered a “potential diversion” to the annual half marathon in case of delays, but such contingency measures “will not now be necessary”.
Nearly a month of added traffic congestion in the heart of Tyneside should ease with the reopening. Drivers have been advised to avoid driving through the centre of Gateshead to get in or out of Newcastle over recent weeks, and there have been major worries about the “devastating” impact on local businesses, with fast food restaurant Banditos Kitchen on Park Lane shutting its doors completely during the closure.
Council Thanks Public for Patience
Anneliese Hutchinson, the council’s strategic director for economy, innovation and growth, said: “We are delighted to see Park Lane roundabout re-open after this closure period. The team on site has delivered a very impressive result. The junction has been truly transformed, and opens up sightlines from the east of Gateshead into the town centre like we’ve not seen since the 1960s.”
She added: “We recognise the programme to demolish the flyover around the roundabout has been very challenging for everyone involved. It’s not been easy for local residents or businesses, but we want to thank everyone for their understanding while the road closure has been in place over these last four weeks. We hope they will appreciate the huge change that has been brought about, which will benefit the whole area for the long term.”
Demolition Progress and Next Steps
Demolition of the six northernmost spans of the A167 Gateshead Highway flyover is complete, with contractors BAM and Thompsons working on the seventh ahead of Friday’s reopening. Hundreds of tonnes of rubble and scrap steel have also had to be cleared, while crushed stone and steel plates protecting the road beneath will need to be removed so it can be washed down for reopening.
While an exact time for the road’s reopening has not been confirmed, it is expected to be after the evening rush hour. The council warned that it will not open the footpaths around Park Lane immediately as they are in need of repairs following damage caused during the demolition. Demolition crews will soon move onto the final section of the flyover that remains standing, the central part of the structure which runs directly over the underground Tyne and Wear Metro lines. The flyover was shut in December 2024 due to structural concerns and its removal is expected to cost more than £30 million.
