Commuters have been urged to avoid driving through the centre of Gateshead amid warnings of the worst disruption yet caused by the town’s flyover demolition. The busy Park Lane roundabout will shut at the end of July for the next stage of work to tear down the A167 Gateshead Highway Flyover.
Most Complex Stage of Demolition
Gateshead Council bosses said that the closure, which will start on Saturday July 25 and last several weeks, would be the “most complex stage” of the massive demolition project. The nearby Five Bridges roundabout is currently closed to traffic, but the Park Lane section of the works is expected to result in even more traffic chaos.
The roundabout is heavily used by commuters travelling into Newcastle because it connects the A184 Felling Bypass to the A167 over the Tyne Bridge. Transport chiefs have urged drivers who would usually drive through Gateshead town centre to avoid the area.
24/7 Demolition Work and Diversion Routes
The council confirmed that flyover demolition works around the Park Lane roundabout will be carried out 24/7 to get the junction reopened “in the shortest possible time” and that the project had been deliberately timed to coincide with reduced traffic levels during the school holidays. It is currently expected that the roundabout will be closed until Friday, August 21.
A diversion route will be in place via Quays Boulevard and Hawks Road – but officials warn that it is not designed to carry the volume of traffic that uses Park Lane. Neil Wilkinson, interim service director for planning and transport at Gateshead Council, said: “This is the most complex and challenging phase of the demolition programme and there will be significant disruption on the road network. Our key message is simple. If you’re not travelling to Gateshead town centre, please avoid travelling through it while Park Lane roundabout is closed.”
Wilkinson added: “The diversion routes are there to maintain access for residents, businesses and visitors. They are not intended to carry the usual volume of commuter traffic that passes through this part of Gateshead every day. At the same time, Gateshead remains very much open for business. Our shops, businesses, restaurants, venues and attractions will continue to welcome visitors throughout the closure period, and there will be a fantastic programme of activities and events taking place across the town centre during the summer.”
Alternative Routes and Timeline
Drivers are being told to use the A1, A19 and Tyne Tunnel rather than going through Gateshead town centre, as well as using public transport, walking, or cycling if possible. Before the full Park Lane roundabout closure begins, there will be a week of overnight closures starting on Monday July 20.
The flyover has been shut since fears that it was at risk of collapse emerged in December 2024. Demolition work on the crumbling concrete structure finally began in earnest this April and it is hoped that the eyesore highway will be gone by October this year. A series of 40 steel props, each weighing 10 tonnes, has been brought in to support the weight of the flyover to prevent it collapsing during the demolition.
