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Traffic Bulletin: Delays Expected On A1 Near Gateshead Over Bank Holiday Weekend
Drivers planning to travel on the A1 southbound in Tyne and Wear are urged to allow extra time for their journeys this week and throughout the Bank Holiday weekend, following the discovery of issues with mine workings in the area.
Significant delays are expected to continue with overnight full closures and daytime lane closures due between junctions 68 (Lobley Hill) and 65 (Birtley) until at least early next week. The closures have been implemented for everyone’s safety after engineers on National Highways’ Birtley to Coal House scheme uncovered a four-metre void in the verge near the junction 65 exit slip.
An emergency full closure was put in place last night on the A1 southbound between junctions 68 and 65. While investigations and repairs continue, overnight full closures will remain tonight (23 May) and tomorrow night in this area. Traffic will be diverted away from the A1 at junction 69.
This will be followed by further full overnight southbound closures between junctions 66 (Eighton Lodge) and 65 on Saturday, Sunday and Monday night.
The daytime southbound lane 1 closure will remain between junctions 66 and just past the junction 65 exit slip into next week, reducing the A1 to a single lane.
The junction 65 southbound exit slip will also remain closed, meaning there will still be no access to the A1231 from the A1 southbound. Non-motorway traffic is being diverted to leave the A1 at junction 66.
National Highways Project Manager Helen Burrow said:
“The closures are necessary to keep everybody safe while we investigate the area to ensure it remains safe and find a permanent fix for this issue as soon as we can. We’re working to have the road fully reopened as soon as it’s safe to do so.
“We’re continuing to carry out further exploratory work and, at the moment, anticipate that the repairs will continue into next week. We’ll continue to share progress updates as we get a clearer picture of how long the closures will need to remain in place.”
“We appreciate road users have already experienced delays, especially during peak times, but the closures are essential to make sure everybody gets to their destination safely. While they’re in place, we strongly advise everyone to plan ahead and allow plenty of extra time to travel. People may wish to avoid the area entirely, plan alternative routes if possible, and avoid travelling during the busiest periods.”
Further updates will be shared on the A1 Birtley to Coal House web page and the @HighwaysNEAST X (Twitter) feed. The National Highways customer contact centre is also available at 0300 123 5000 or email
info@nationalhighways.co.uk