Gateshead Flyover Report Suggested Lifespan Until 2090 Before Closure
A recent report indicated the Gateshead Flyover could last until 2090, but it closed just five years later due to structural issues.
Gateshead, UK, Flyover, Closure, Council, Metro
Gateshead: So, it turns out the flyover that everyone thought was good to go until 2090 has suddenly closed. Crazy, right? A report from 2019 said it could last for decades if maintained properly. But now, just five years later, it’s shut down because of serious structural problems.
The council had estimated that keeping the flyover safe would cost around £94 million over the years. They even tried to get £18 million from the government to tear it down, saying the upkeep was becoming a real burden. But now, with the flyover closed, folks are wondering what went wrong so quickly.
It was closed in December after concerns about one of its concrete pillars. This led to the Metro services below being suspended for almost two weeks. The council had previously said the flyover wasn’t an immediate danger, but now they’re saying it’s reached the end of its life. Quite the turnaround!
Council leader Ron Beadle is asking for clarity on what maintenance was done since that 2019 report. He thinks the government would want to know too, especially if they’re being asked to fund repairs now.
Meanwhile, the council is looking to demolish the flyover and rethink the road layout in Gateshead. The North East mayor is on board with using regional funds for the removal, but they’ll need government support for a bigger redevelopment.
Since 2008, there have been dreams of replacing the old flyover with a nice tree-lined street. But despite various plans, nothing has been funded yet. The council believes tearing it down could open up space for new homes, which sounds promising.
They had a plan that would cost about £18 million to demolish the flyover and change the roundabout into a traffic light intersection. The council hasn’t commented on why the lifespan prediction changed so drastically, but it’s clear there are a lot of questions to answer.