Motorists urged to plan for Tyne Bridge closure

Motorists driving through Newcastle are being urged to plan their route during the upcoming school half-term holiday while the Tyne Bridge is closed.

As work on the multi-million-pound bridge restoration programme nears completion on the bridge’s east side parapets, works will soon progress to the iconic structure’s main steel arch in early 2027.

Extensive scaffolding needs to be fitted above the carriageway to allow the bridge to remain open when work on the arch gets underway next year.

This important phase will see the Tyne Bridge closed from 11pm on Friday October 23 until 5am on Monday November 2. Newcastle City Council said this full 10-day closure will allow engineers safe and uninterrupted access to the bridge, saving time and reducing the amount of disruption to the travelling public over the longer term.

While the bridge is closed, traffic, cyclists and pedestrians will be diverted onto other routes and everyone is being urged to plan their travel in advance and be prepared for longer journey times.

To minimise disruption to the travelling public, the full closure has been carefully planned to take place during the October half-term holidays, when traffic is lighter.

Coun Colin Ferguson, leader of Newcastle City Council, said: “This is a major milestone in the Tyne Bridge’s restoration programme, as we preserve this Grade II* listed structure for future generations.

“Over the last two years, significant progress and a major transformation have taken place on the lower sections of the bridge, and now the work progresses to the main bridge arch - the centrepiece of the restoration programme and its most visually prominent phase.

“But to get to this crucial stage, a 10-day closure of the Tyne Bridge is necessary. We fully recognise that this will be disruptive, which is why we have carefully planned this with our contractor to ensure this complex stage is programmed during the half-term break, with fewer cars on the road.

“Newcastle and Gateshead are very much open for business during this period, and we are urging people to plan ahead, allow more time for the journey and use public transport where possible as we continue to restore an icon to its former glory.”

No access for vehicles, bikes or on foot

During the full closure from October 23 until November 2, there will be no access to vehicles, pedestrians or cyclists. Signed diversion routes will be in place, but roads across Newcastle, Gateshead and the wider Tyneside network are expected to be significantly busier than usual.

People are being urged to plan their journeys in advance, allow extra travelling time and use public transport wherever possible. Motorists are advised to avoid travel through the centre of Newcastle and Gateshead and stay on the major trunk roads and use other cross river crossings such as the A1, A19 Tyne Tunnel and Scotswood Bridge.

Pedestrians and cyclists will also need to use alternative river crossings during the closure.

Further information on the closure, diversion routes, public transport and travel advice will be published ahead of the works at https://tynebridge.org/travel-advice

The restoration work is scheduled to be completed ahead of the bridge's centenary celebration in October 2028.

Source: https://new.newcastle.gov.uk/news/2026/tyne-bridge-closures-major-milestone-approaches