Gateshead flyover upper carriageway which is currently closed 'may never reopen'

The leader of Gateshead Council has said he suspects the upper carriageway of the Gateshead flyover "will not reopen".

The flyover and the road beneath it has been closed since Friday evening (13 December) after an inspection by structural engineers indicated a potential risk to safety.

But on Monday (16 December), council leader Martin Gannon said the flyover has clearly "reached the end of it's lifespan".

He told ITV Tyne Tees that engineers might be able to do some temporary repairs so it can reopen for a limited time, but he suspects this will not be possible.

"It might be possible to reopen the lower carriageway, however I suspect that the upper carriageway will not reopen," he said.

"That's a lot of ifs, and I want to ensure that I'm not misleading people, but we will absolutely be guided by the public safety advice from structural engineers."

The flyover has been open since the 1960s, and prior to its recent closure was carrying 40,000 vehicles every day.

Cllr Gannon is urging motorists who are affected by the closure of the flyover to make alternative arrangements to their routes and times of travelling.

"If you can take an alternative route, take an alternative route," he said. "If you can travel out of peak times, travel out of peak times. If you can take public transport, take public transport.

"Some people have no alternative, but thanks to everybody heeding that advice, it's been a lot clearer today (16 December) than it could have been if people hadn't heeded that advice."

Councillors are expecting to receive a more detailed report from structural engineers later this week while Cllr Gannon is preparing for every possible outcome.

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