Drivers south of the Tyne should prepare for months of misery with TWO major roadworks projects set to get under way by the end of the month.

Gateshead Council and South Tyneside Council announced on Monday that work on schemes at Heworth roundabout and Arches junction in South Shields respectively will begin by the close of January.

Essential repair work at Heworth roundabout, which was originally scheduled to start in September last year, will start on January 8 and is expected to take up to seven months.

A map outlining the first phase of South Tyneside Council's work on the Arches junction
A map outlining the first phase of South Tyneside Council's work on the Arches junction

The A184 Felling Bypass either side of Heworth roundabout will be reduced to a single lane in each direction, with occasional full road closures at nights and weekends as required.

Local traffic will be affected by the closure of the A185 Shields Road between Heworth roundabout and the Maiden Over pub will be closed.

The route between Heworth roundabout and Sunderland Road will also be closed, while bus lanes will remain operational.

Meanwhile, the £8.1 million scheme aiming to alleviate congestion at the bottleneck junction of the A185 and A194 – the Arches - will get under way later this month.

The scheme, which is expected to last for 12 months, involves changing both the Arches and Hobson Way roundabouts into signalised junctions, and providing a new one-way link from Hobson Way to Jarrow Road.

A Google Street view of Arches junction in South Shields, connecting the A185 and A194
A Google Street view of Arches junction in South Shields, connecting the A185 and A194

The A194 towards the junction for Hobson Way and Elswick Way will also be widened to enable two right turning lanes onto Hobson Way.

The first phase of the scheme will see all existing lanes remain open during peak periods - 6.30am to 9am, and 4pm to 6.30pm.

Outside these times, lane closures will be in place and drivers are advised there may be delays.

Commuters between South Shields and north of the Tyne will likely face delays as a result of both schemes, and spokespersons for both councils stressed the timings were unavoidable.

Anneliese Hutchinson
Anneliese Hutchinson

Anneliese Hutchinson, service director for development, transport and public protection at Gateshead Council: “We were fully aware of the works in South Shields and we always try to co-ordinate works to minimise disruption where possible.

“However, the government requires us to spend this money within this current financial year so we are unable to delay the work at Heworth roundabout any further.

“In addition, any further delay to the essential maintenance and repairs at Heworth roundabout would increase the risk of more serious damage to the bridges, which would take much longer to repair, cost more and cause traffic congestion for even longer.

“If we delay for another 12 months it would mean the Heworth roundabout works would also then clash with Highways England’s proposals for improvements to Testos roundabout, and together this would have a far more serious effect on the region’s traffic than South Tyneside’s proposed off-peak works.”

Councillor Allan West, lead member for housing and transport at South Tyneside Council, added: “Due to the duration of the two projects some overlap is unavoidable.

“All existing lanes will remain open during peak times so the network will remain fully operational during busy morning and evening rush hour periods.”