Key stakeholders have welcomed the completion of a £61M improvement of the A1 to the west of Gateshead, which was officially opened by Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin last week.

 

The project has seen a 6.5km stretch of the road upgraded from two lanes in each direction to three between junctions 67 (Coal House) and 71 (Metro Centre). The scheme aims to help tackle congestion and increase road capacity in the area and was delivered by Highways England alongside main contractor Balfour Beatty.

 

“Having campaigned for this upgrade for over a decade, the scheme’s opening is hugely welcomed,” said North East England Chamber of Commerce chief executive, James Ramsbotham. “The tangible benefits to business cannot be underestimated as so many companies now have certainty when travelling around Tyneside and beyond.”

 

Newcastle Airport’s interim chief executive Nick Jones commented: “The Gateshead western bypass is a key route for passengers getting to Newcastle Airport from the south of the region, so this improvement will make a big difference.”

 

Gateshead shopping venue ‘the Metro Centre’ general manager Gavin Prior added: “The demand for three lanes along the A1 has been evident for years, and we are delighted the works are now complete so our shoppers and retailers can start to reap the rewards.”

 

The project took less than two years to complete. In total the team has added 13km of extra traffic lane to the A1 and carried out 150,000m² of resurfacing. The scheme also included the provision of two new local link roads.

 

Highways England project manager Lynne Biddles said: “The extra lanes will benefit the thousands of drivers who use the route every day, and the new link roads will mean local traffic will have a dedicated route between Lobley Hill and Gateshead Quays.”

 

CIHT's North East & Cumbria Region chairman Anthony Robinson said: “Completion of the A1 improvement scheme between Coal House and the Metro Centre will be welcomed by all who use this crucial north-south route. The mix of short and long distance traffic on this stretch caused real problems with congestion and delays, so separating them with parallel link roads should make the route safer and more reliable.”

 

A new footbridge has also been installed over the road at Chiltern Gardens and a 600m cycle track created, linking up with the local cycle network.

 

(Photo: Department for Transport)