Response to the closure of A167 flyover

Gateshead Liberal Democrats have issued the following response to the sudden closure of the A167 flyover on December 13:

1. The Council is right to close the flyover when officers advised that it is not safe.  However, the flyover’s structural condition has been clear for more than a decade and, once again, Gateshead Labour has ducked a decision until the situation is at crisis point.
2. The priority is to remove the flyover to enable the A167 to re-open at ground level.  A contractor should be appointed as soon as possible and a range estimate made for the cost of this work.
3. The North-East Mayor’s Local Transport Delivery Plan item GA03 includes £90m to be spent between 2027-2030 for work in Gateshead Town Centre.  The Deputy Mayor, with responsibility for Transport, Cllr. Gannon, must secure these funds and reprioritise the Mayor’s expenditure plans so that work can begin as soon as possible.
4. The funding package should include works to re-open Askew Road to allow eastbound traffic to turn north onto the Tyne Bridge.  Drivers should remain able to turn right from the Tesco Car Park on to the Tyne Bridge so that people can visit from the North without having to go through Gateshead on their way back.  Any plans to change this must be scrapped.
5. Traffic management measures must include clearer road markings to reduce vehicular conflict which will otherwise increase.  Ultimately, traffic lights and yellow hatch markings are needed at all the roundabouts on the way to the Tyne Bridge.
6. This crisis will require proper oversight at the regional level but there is no dedicated Scrutiny committee overseeing transport at Regional level. This must change.
7. It is not good enough for a Council Leader to discourage people from travelling to Gateshead. Residents need to be able to go about their daily lives, emergency services need to be able to move freely between Newcastle and Gateshead, and businesses need to prosper and provide employment. The role of the Council is to improve matters, not make things worse.