A £9m investment into Newcastle’s A167(M) marks one year on site.
Over the last 12 months critical concrete repairs and joint replacement have been taking place on the elevated viaduct, which runs from the Great North Road to the New Bridge Street roundabout in the city centre. This has seen central motorway reduced to one lane in each direction.
Since being on site, 72 of the 115 bridge joints have been replaced and critical concrete repairs to the viaduct including the soffit and piers of the northbound carriageway have been carried out. Cathodic protection is also being installed as a protective measure against further deterioration, extending the service life of this key structure.
The planned 16-month programme has progressed well, ahead of schedule, and is expected to be substantially complete by the end of October. The completion date is dependent on the extent of repairs required in the remaining section of motorway.
In the coming weeks, traffic management restrictions will start to be removed from both the Northbound upper carriageway and the Southbound lower carriageway, opening up this area of motorway to two lanes of traffic in each direction.
The remaining programme will see the last bridge joint replacements made and the final concrete repairs to the soffit of Sandyford Road Bridge which carries the Southbound carriageway of the A167 (M) over Sandyford Road. To facilitate these works, the current contraflow traffic management will remain in place until this section is complete. This is needed to protect the workforce who are working next to live traffic.
As well as being vital work, needed to futureproof a key part of the city’s transport infrastructure, the project is also making a difference to local people with its social value programme.
This has been a key focus throughout the works programme, with VolkerLaser carrying out the works delivering the project for Newcastle City Council.
This has seen donations of £500 each made to five separate local grassroots sports clubs, student placements and members of the project volunteering to improve outside space at the Welford Centre which provides services for adults with profound learning disabilities, autism and complex needs.
Alongside this, they have recruited seven apprentices from the Newcastle area, including two currently working on the project.
Cllr Colin Ferguson, Leader of Newcastle City Council said: "Reaching one year on site is an important milestone for this project, and I’m delighted that work is progressing so well. Thanks to the dedication of everyone involved, the scheme is now ahead of schedule, which means we’re on course to deliver these improvements sooner than originally planned.
"This is one of the most important transport routes into and through Newcastle, carrying thousands of journeys every day. Investing in its future is essential if we are to keep our city moving, support local businesses and ensure our infrastructure is fit for the decades ahead.
"We know projects of this scale inevitably bring some disruption, and I want to thank residents, businesses and everyone who travels through the city for their continued patience. We have worked closely with our contractors to keep disruption to a minimum wherever possible, while maintaining the highest standards of safety and quality.
"Seeing the project ahead of schedule is a credit to that partnership and to the teams delivering this work. It means we can restore this key route more quickly, reduce the overall impact on road users, and ensure Newcastle has the robust transport infrastructure it needs to support our city’s future.
“Social value is another important aspect, ensuring our communities also benefit while we make important infrastructure improvements.”
Senior project manager, Ben Leng from VolkerLaser said: "As we mark one year on the project, it's encouraging to reflect on how much has been achieved. Despite the challenges presented by the location and the complexities that come with working in a live environment, the team has continued to make good progress while maintaining a strong focus on safety, quality and collaboration. Alongside delivering critical project milestones, we're particularly proud of the positive impact we've made in the local community through our social value activities, creating opportunities, supporting local organisations and leaving a lasting legacy beyond the construction works themselves."
While the works are ongoing, drivers are advised to plan ahead, use alternative routes where possible and allow more time for their journeys.
People travelling across the region are advised to avoid travel through the centre of Newcastle and stay on the major trunk roads and use other cross river crossings such as the A1, A19, Tyne Tunnel and Scotswood Bridge.
The funding for the A167(M) upgrade, part of a package that also includes the Tyne Bridge, is funded by the UK Government and Newcastle City Council.
