Press release

Find out more about A1 upgrade near Gateshead

People in Gateshead are being given the chance to find out more about plans to upgrade a 2.5 mile stretch of the A1.

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The planned Highways England improvements will provide additional capacity, and improve journey times and safety while supporting economic growth in the region.

The existing dual carriageway will have extra lanes added between Birtley (junction 65) and Coal House (junction 67). Allerdene Railway Bridge which carries the A1 over the East Coast railway line will also be replaced as part of the project.

A public consultation event about the scheme is taking place next month.

The events will be held on Friday 9 September 1pm until 8pm at Chowdene Children’s Centre, Waverley Road, Harlow Green, NE9 7TU and Saturday 10 September, 10am until 4pm at Birtley East Community Primary School, Highfield, Birtley, DH3 1QQ.

Highways England project manager Nicola Wilkes said:

We would really like people to come along to these public consultation events which are being held over 2 days.

These events are a chance for local people to meet the project team, find out more about the proposals and give us their feedback.

Last month Highways England completed a £61 million pound scheme to increase the number of lanes from 2 to 3 between Coal House and the Metro Centre at junction 71.

In total, 8 miles of extra lanes have been added to the A1, increasing the number of lanes in each direction from 2 to 3.

Two new parallel link roads have also been created along a third-of-a-mile stretch of the A1 between Lobley Hill and Gateshead Quays; 150,000 square metres of resurfacing has been carried out – the equivalent of 21 football pitches; and 12 miles of new kerbs have been laid, made from recycled plastic bottles.

More details on the A1 Birtley to Coal House scheme are available.

General enquiries

Members of the public should contact the Highways England customer contact centre on 0300 123 5000.

Media enquiries

Journalists should contact the Highways England press office on 0844 693 1448 and use the menu to speak to the most appropriate press officer.

Published 30 August 2016