Blaydon footbridge: Latest updates as traffic builds

Police are looking to trace a flat bed wagon that hit the Blaydon bridge earlier this week.

The wagon was carrying a JCB on it's back, when it hit the top of the footbridge at around 1.30pm on Wednesday (August 3).

It left the scene without stopping.

The police and council immediately responded and the bridge had to be completely shut to pedestrians.

Sections of the road also had to be closed to allow for structural engineers to safely examine the damage caused, and repairs could cost hundreds-of-thousands of pounds.

The footbridge is right next to a McDonalds restaurant and police believe there were people in there at the time of the collision and who might have seen what happened.

Officers also believe there was a female pedestrian actually on the bridge at the time.

These people are being urged to get in touch.

Gateshead Council are warning people NOT to cross the very busy A695 on foot after a pedestrian footbridge collapsed in Blaydon.

The only safe pedestrian crossing is at the opposite end of Blaydon Shopping Centre via the light-controlled pedestrian crossing at the entrance to Morrison’s car park, then under the flyover to the level crossing on Tyne Street.

Council engineers are meeting contractors on site later today to begin planning the process of removing the damaged portion of bridge.

Once the removal has been completed, then hopefully over the weekend there'll be a detailed inspection of the remainder of the bridge to try and work out what repairs are needed.

Heavy traffic is building around the A695 after a Heavy Goods Vehicle hit a footbridge over the Blaydon Highway.

The B6317 roundabout - eastbound-only has re-opened to one lane and rush-hour traffic is causing huge delays.

The A695 is set to be closed for the next 24 hours after a vehicle hit a footbridge.

It is believed to be a Heavy Good Vehicle that struck the Blaydon Highways footpath on Wednesday afternoon.

The roads were closed over fears the bridge could collapse.

Bus services around the Metrocentre, in Gateshead, are also affected by the heavy traffic.

Police are also warning HGV drivers that vehicles over 7.5 tonne cannot use Newburn Bridge. If travelling north they should use A1 via Blaydon South use Stella Road & Shobdon Road to the A695.

Motrorists are being warned to stay away from the Blaydon Highway as heavy traffic builds after a vehicle hit a footbridge.

Roads have been closed over fears the footbridge could collapse.

Motorists are advised to avoid the area and use an alternative route. Diversions are in place at:

• on Blaydon Highway
• Eastbound - Stella Rd to Shibdon Rd then Derwenthaugh Rd
• Westbound - Derwenthaugh Rd onto Shibdon Rd to Stella Rd

Police said HGVs will need to travel on the A1 then over Newburn Bridge.

Officers in area working to keep traffic moving.

Traffic is building up across the A114 Riverside Way as diversions in place

Heavy traffic is building up after a vehicle hit a footbridge in Blaydon leaving it in danger of collapsing