A busy Metro line serving Newcastle and North Tyneside is to close for two weeks from this weekend - causing major disruption for commuters.
Nexus, the public body which owns and manages Metro, is putting in place a 14-day major line closure between St James and Tynemouth, from Saturday, July 16, through to Friday July 29.
The closure will allow for major track and overhead line renewal projects along with vegetation clearance work along the full length of the line. Tanners Bank bridge, located between Tynemouth and North Shields, is also going to be removed so that an entirely new bridge can go in its place.
During the closure, Metro customers will be able to use their tickets and passes on 11 local bus services running in the affected area.
North Tyneside Council and Nexus are working in partnership to improve the road into the Fish Quay as part of the council’s wider ambition for North Shields, as well as making sure the Metro can run smoothly for decades to come.
Tanners Bank Road is closed until August 12 to all traffic and pedestrians. During this period, some car parking along Tynemouth Road near the bridge will be suspended. Tynemouth Road will be closed to all vehicles next to the bridge for two weeks from July 16 to July 29. Pedestrians and cyclists will still be able to travel along Tynemouth Road at all times.
Businesses on Tanners Bank Road, Tynemouth Road and the wider Fish Quay remain open as usual.
The project, funded through a £2.7m grant from the Department for Transport’s Highways Challenge Fund, £300,000 from the Metro Asset Renewal Programme, and £103,000 from North Tyneside Council, will see clearance beneath the bridge raised to allow large HGVs and double decker buses to get to and from the fish quay.
Nexus says it needs to replace Tanners Bank bridge due to its age. The current structure dates back to the Victorian era, on a line opened in 1839 and is said to have been the world’s first commuter railway line.
Customer Services Director at Nexus, Huw Lewis, said: “Customers need to plan ahead and allow plenty of time for travelling when the line is closed between St James and Tynemouth.
“There is no good time to shut a section of the Metro network, but by packing all of these works into a two-week period we can avoid many more months of weekend closures.
“The works that we are carrying out will help to secure the long-term future of Metro for many generations to come.
“We have planned this during the school summer holidays when trains are less busy. I apologise in advance for anyone who has their journey disrupted. Work will be taking place along the whole section of line. We will be replacing tracks and overhead lines and clearing trackside areas of vegetation.
“Tanners Bank Metro bridge, which carries 173 train services a day between Newcastle and North Tyneside, will be completely replaced. This bridge is a vital part of Metro’s infrastructure which now needs to be replaced. The current bridge was built in the mid-19th century and has served Metro for 41 years since we took the line over – but this summer is the right time to replace it.
“The new structure will ensure that we can run trains in this area for many more generations to come, and the new one will allow greater clearance above the road so that more buses and commercial vehicles are able to get down to North Shields Fish Quay.”
A full list of the buses for customers to use is available online at www.nexus.org.uk/mlcjuly2022
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