Allerdene Bridge on A1 Birtley found to have ‘defects’

Gateshead: So, the Allerdene Bridge has some welding problems, and it’s causing a bit of a hassle. This bridge was part of a big upgrade project on the A1, and now it’s one of twelve bridges where issues have popped up.

This bridge, which opened just last September, crosses the East Coast Main Line. It’s a hefty structure, weighing about 3,400 tonnes. But now, the folks at National Highways and the steel company, Severfield, say it’s not an immediate safety risk, which is a relief.

Still, they’ve kept some traffic restrictions in place. You know how it goes—traffic was supposed to flow better, but now it’s still a bit of a mess around the bridge. They first heard about the welding issues last August, and if they don’t fix it, it could shorten the bridge’s lifespan.

Right now, they’re not letting any heavy vehicles use the bridge, and the new lanes they built are still closed. They haven’t given a timeline for when everything will be back to normal, but they promise to open it fully as soon as it’s safe.

A spokesperson mentioned they’re on it, working with specialists to find the best solutions. But it’s not just this bridge that’s causing concern. Severfield has reported similar issues on other bridges, and it’s going to cost a pretty penny to fix—over £20 million, they estimate.

Local residents are feeling the pinch too. One guy, Craig, who lives nearby, said the traffic is a nightmare. He’s been waiting for things to get sorted out, but it seems like it’s dragging on longer than expected. They were told it would be done by last November, then December, and now? Who knows?

And it’s not just the Allerdene Bridge that’s in trouble. The Gateshead Flyover has been closed since mid-December due to fears it might collapse. Plus, there are other bridges in the area that need urgent repairs. It’s a bit of a mess, to be honest.