A1 Bridge Work to Cause Six Months of Delays
National Highways has warned of daytime lane closures on the A1 as a six-month bridge works project begins. The closures are expected to cause significant travel disruptions for drivers in the region. Motorists, including commuters to and from Newcastle, are advised to plan for delays and adjust their routes.
- This project is part of a major upgrade to the A1 between Birtley and Coal House (junctions 65 to 67), a stretch of road used by around 80,000 vehicles daily. - The work includes replacing the Allerdene Bridge, which carries the A1 over the East Coast Main Line, and widening the road to three northbound lanes and four southbound lanes. - Delays have been significantly extended due to the discovery of welding defects on the new 3,400-tonne Allerdene Bridge after it was installed in September 2023. - The steelwork contractor, Severfield, reported the issues, which has kept lane closures in place even though the broader widening project is mostly finished. - Repairs are complex and slow because they require access to the electrified railway line, which can only happen during brief, pre-planned overnight closures on weekends. - National Highways has stated that due to the complexity of the repairs, the lane closures and resulting disruption are expected to continue until spring 2026. - The original Allerdene Bridge was over 40 years old and required frequent maintenance, which caused regular disruption to traffic.
