A Gateshead councillor has called for the reopening of the link road between Park Lane and Five Bridges, which remains closed after sustaining damage during the demolition of the A167 flyover.
At Gateshead Council's corporate resources committee, Labour councillor John Adams, who represents Saltwell, said he was keen to see the road reopened to traffic and expressed dissatisfaction with the current traffic arrangements.
Councillor calls for Durham Road traffic
Councillor Adams said: "I represent Saltwell and at the minute a lot of cars are going up and down Prince Consort Road, which is a very narrow road without bus or cycle lanes. I am very keen for the traffic to go down Durham Road, which is, I think, more appropriate for high levels of traffic.
"I am keen to see the link road re-opened; I say that as a ward councillor. When is a decision going to be made on that?"
The road was directly underneath the now-demolished flyover and sustained damage during the works. According to a local authority release issued today, the return of the road "will need to be considered alongside the wider road network."
Traffic modelling under review
Councillors at this morning's corporate resources overview and scrutiny committee were also informed that traffic modelling work is currently being examined, with findings to be presented to cabinet at a later date, though an exact timeline could not be given.
Gateshead Council's dedicated online page about the flyover demolition states: "It's right in the heart of the area where we're planning thousands of new homes for Gateshead, and we want to use this opportunity to bring it into our wider plans to regenerate the borough.
"Reimagining this area presents a huge opportunity, and so it's only right we ask our residents what you want to see happen. So, we'll be opening a consultation in the coming months so we can use your views to shape the future."
Petition and consultation
The wider regeneration of Gateshead town centre is expected to be open to public consultation later this month. The prospect of the road being permanently closed has already sparked a 1,000-signature petition calling for its retention. The petition claims the loss of the road was "chaotic" and was "turning the daily lives of local motorists, workers, and delivery drivers into a frustrating and seemingly endless battle with traffic bottlenecks."
