Gateshead Highway flyover demolition - information for neighbours

We have been working hard over the last few months, alongside expert contractors, to bring together a demolition programme to remove the Gateshead Highway flyover.

We know that neighbours of the structure, either living or working locally, will have concerns about what this project will involve and the impact it will have.

We're sorry not to have shared more with you sooner - it's been complex to design the demolition programme and finalise the detail of the contracts to get the work completed safely and efficiently.

Now we want to update you with all we know to date - and the issues that we know will affect everyone locally.

Programme of work

Our first task is to remove the Computer House office building at the southern end of High Street, as it stands so close to the flyover. This work starts on 20 October 2025.

We will then be demolishing the entire 900 metre long Gateshead Highway flyover structure and all the on and off ramps linking to surrounding roads. The foundations of the structure will also need to be partially excavated.

The only exception to this will be two sections of retaining walls with textured concrete panels close to the Bellevue roundabout. These panels were designed by artist William Mitchell and we have been asked to preserve them.

Our regeneration plans extend beyond the flyover to the nearby High Street South area, so we are also proposing to also demolish further buildings, but the detail of that part of the programme is not yet finalised.

Map of works

Works compound

We have been working with our main contractor, BAM, on the location for a compound for their demolition teams on the east side of the flyover, just to the north of the Sunderland Road bus lane (see map).

Our intention is to keep this compound at a distance from the homes on Chaucer Close, to minimise any potential disruption.

BAM and Thompsons of Prudhoe will require several site cabins over two storeys as their project base and there will be a storage area for their demolition equipment too.

Site perimeter

We will need to securely fence the demolition site and compound to protect the public from harm. This will mean restricting access to a larger radius around the flyover than is currently the case, to ensure a larger space around the flyover is fenced off to ensure safe working.

The perimeter will be shifted as we work through the different phases of the demolition work.

We will work with the contractor to maintain access around the site perimeter as far as possible, and to allow you to access your homes and workplaces as usual, but sometimes it will be necessary to put diversions in place, away from the normal routes you use.

Vehicle routes

Our contractors' vehicles will be based in their compound on the eastern side of the flyover, north of the Sunderland Road bus lane.

Our current plans, agreed with BAM, show materials from the demolition site will be removed using large HGVs, exiting via the Park Lane roundabout and Park Lane itself, and then travelling south east along the A184 Felling Bypass.

This route has been deliberately designed to keep heavy vehicles and associated noise and dust away from people's homes and workplaces.

Only the contractors' personal vehicles and some deliveries should use the access from Sunderland Road.

Phasing of demolition work

The final schedule for the whole programme has not yet been agreed, but we will definitely first begin the work on the central section of the flyover, around the Sunderland Road bus lane, to the south of the Metro tunnel. This is likely to be in early 2026.

Then we will tackle the two sections at the north and south of the flyover - around the Bellevue (Five Bridges) roundabout and the Park Lane roundabout.

Finally we will take down the section of the flyover which sits above the Metro tunnels.

Protection of nearby properties

Where necessary, screens will be erected to protect adjacent buildings from debris and dust generated by the demolition work.

BAM and their contractors will also use dust suppression techniques, including throwing up mist from hose pipes.

Safety checks

Following the recent closure of Park Lane roundabout for safety checks on the flyover concrete, we are increasing the frequency of these checks to ensure public safety.

The next checks will mean closure of the Park Lane roundabout:

• Thursday 16 to Friday 17 October, from 10pm to 6am

• Friday 17 to Saturday 18 October, from 10pm to 6am

Then closure of the Sunderland Road bus lane:

• Saturday 18 to Sunday 19 October, from 11pm to 6am;

And finally closure of the Bellevue (Five Bridges) roundabout:

• Sunday 19 to Monday 20 October, from 10pm to 6am

Additional dates have been identified in case of further closures being required.

We will also be adding netting to the copings (side panels) on the flyover to prevent any loose material falling from the structure. We aim to put this netting in place in November.

Road network and diversions

Our demolition programme aims to keep roads open as much as possible, and starting demolition in the central section of the flyover helps this process.

The two main roundabouts at the northern and southern ends of the flyover will remain open (other than the overnight closures mentioned above) until demolition work moves into the next phase.

Our highways and network management teams are working closely with BAM, Newcastle City Council and National Highways to plan the programme and any diversions which will be necessary.

We will need to close the Sunderland Road bus lane and a short section of High Street from December, to enable the safe demolition of Computer House. We have been talking to bus operators to organise diversions and ensure timetables can be amended as necessary.

The bus lane will remain closed for the whole demolition programme, while High Street will be able to re-open.

Pedestrian routes

Currently there are four main fully accessible routes to cross under the flyover at different points:

• footbridges across Bellevue roundabout
• the Sunderland Road bus and cycle link
• pedestrian crossing south of Park Lane roundabout
• pedestrian and cycle tunnel between Priory Court and Union Electric Steel

We recognise the importance of links being available to enable local journeys, and will try to leave crossing points open as much as possible.

Obviously each one will need to close for a period, at different points in the demolition process, and we will share further information on timings and diversions with you as soon as we confirm all the details with BAM.

Further information and questions

We will be adding information to the main flyover webpage on a regular basis.

In the meantime, you can email [email protected] with any questions or concerns you may have, and to ask to be added to our email contacts list for updates.

For emergency contact out of office hours, please contact the council's switchboard on 0191 433 3000.