The final span of the Gateshead flyover has been torn down – ending a 6-month demolition project and the start of future development.
The last stretch of the A167 flyover, which dates back to the late 1960s, has been demolished completing the razing of the structure which began in April this year. The flyover was closed back in December 2024, never to reopen, amid fears it could collapse.
The concerns sparked roads closure and even saw the Metro split into two, with the line closed between Monument and Gateshead Stadium.
Now, Gateshead Council representatives are looking to the future, with the removal of the flyover heralded as a key to the regeneration of the area, including 1,100 new homes.
Present at the demolition, Gateshead Council leader Nick Allan said: “It is illuminating, not to put too fine a point on it. It does signify the dawn of a new era where we can start now to realise all our plans to develop the economy of Gateshead, now this is going to off our books.
“We can start to replan the roadworks and get started getting industry and housing development back into the town centre.”
Coun Allan continued: “Gateshead is going to be totally transformed by the plans we have. Starting with Quays development, the leisure facilities, and the extensions to the walk on the Quayside up to the High Street, where we will be developing the Northern End.”
Demolition costs and investment
Under the previous Labour administration, the local authority had set aside £18m for the demolition works, with a £2.5m contribution from what was then the North East Combined Authority. However, earlier Local Democracy Reporting Service coverage revealed the costs, including had climbed to £31m.
The council is now bidding for further funds, including £100m from the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority, and £60m from the Department for Transport for further investments in Gateshead’s roads, alongside its hope to find developers for the post-flyover neighbourhood.
Plans are being examined and will be subject to public consultation in the coming months. A major survey is now underway, due to report back later this year, to determine what the future of the traffic in Gateshead will look like, including the future of the road between the Park Lane and Five Bridges roundabouts.
On the costs, and investment bids, the chief executive of Gateshead Council, Dale Owens said: “The £31m also includes the emergency works to prop up the structure. It was a budgeted estimate obviously, when you have to take something down this complex.”
“We have had the costs verified by an third party.”
The costs also included the demolition of other structures associated with the wider demolition of the flyover.
On the the council’s vision for the area, Mr Owens continued: “1,100 properties, that will be a mix of social housing and private housing. We expect an Extra Care Scheme, supported accommodation for older people.”
The chief executive also confirmed that the council would offer the former tenants of the council’s now vacant Priory Court tower block would be offered new town centre council homes. The residents of Priory Court has to be evacuated in June last year following a catastrophic flood.
Here is a timeline of the demolition works up until now:
- October 2025 – Computer House internal demolition begins
- December 2025 – Computer House external demolition begins
- 31st March 2026 – Computer House demolition complete
- 16th April 2026 – Demolition of flyover begins – central section
- 21 st June 2026 – Five Bridges roundabout closure for flyover demolition (25 days)
- 16 th July 2026 – Five Bridges roundabout demolition complete
25th July 2026 – Park Lane roundabout closure for flyover demolition (26 days) - 21st August 2026 – Park Lane roundabout demolition complete
- 23rd September 2026 – 27 of 29 spans now demolished
- 29th September 2026 – final span demolished
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