The Park Lane roundabout in Gateshead will close for 26 days starting this Saturday night, July 25, as the demolition of the Gateshead Flyover enters its most challenging stage. The closure, lasting until August 21, is expected to cause significant traffic disruption in central Gateshead.
Roundabout Closure Details
The junction, which connects the A184 Felling Bypass to the A167 over the Tyne Bridge, will shut from 8pm on Saturday. Gateshead Council and contractor BAM said engineers will work around the clock to reopen the roundabout as soon as possible. A diversion via the Baltic Quarter will be in place, but the route is not designed for the volume of traffic that normally uses Park Lane.
Drivers are urged to use alternatives such as the A1 and Redheugh Bridge to cross the River Tyne. Anneliese Hutchinson, the council's strategic director for economy, innovation and growth, said the coming weeks will be the most challenging period for motorists during the flyover removal works.
Advice for Motorists
Hutchinson thanked the public for their patience and advised avoiding the area at peak times if possible. “If you don’t need to travel through Gateshead then please use alternatives like the A1 or the A194,” she said. She added that queues and disruption are expected, but the work is scheduled during school holidays to minimise impact.
Traffic from the Felling Bypass to Park Lane will be diverted via Albany Road, Quays Boulevard, and Hawks Road towards the Tyne Bridge or Trinity Square. Vehicles from Charles Street will be diverted to the West Central Route or Prince Consort Road via the Bensham roundabout.
Demolition Progress
The demolition is beyond its halfway point, with the entire southern section removed. 18,000 tonnes of material have been taken down, and steel props have been installed at the Park Lane end for the next phase. The flyover has been closed since December 2024 due to collapse fears, and full demolition is expected by October.
BAM senior agent Jim Smyth said the project remains on schedule but the final stages are the most complicated. The last section to be demolished will be above the Tyne and Wear Metro tunnels. “We have underground services, an underpass, adjacent buildings, substations, traffic signals, street lighting, all of which have to be either protected or diverted,” he explained.
The Five Bridges roundabout at the other end of the flyover has reopened. The council said the town centre remains open for business this summer despite the disruption.
