A 58-hour period of continuous work is set to take place as a beam is removed from a bridge on the A1 as part of the Birtley to Coal House improvement scheme. National Highways will close the southern underbridge on junction 66 of the A1 at Eighton Lodge to allow removal of a beam from the bridge.
The removal of the beam will allow the extension of the bridge for the new lanes in the coming months. As part of the ongoing work on site, National Highways will be conducting essential work on the south bridge at junction 66.
This work involves the removal of the edge beam, which will require the use of a saw and breaking of concrete in the process. To ensure the safety of both the workforce and road users, the section of road on the south side of the junction 66 roundabout will be temporarily closed during the work.
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The A1 will remain open both north and southbound, as it is the road running under the carriageway which will be affected.
The work is scheduled to take place from Friday 11 August until Monday 14 August 2023, constituting a 58-hour continuous work period. It is essential to note that the timeframe for the work is subject to potential changes due to unforeseen circumstances or adverse weather conditions.
Helen Burrow, National Highways Project Manager, said: "We’d like to extend our thanks to residents and motorists for their understanding and cooperation during these essential works. The A1 Birtley to Coal House improvement scheme represents a crucial investment in the region's infrastructure, enhancing road safety and driving experiences for all."
National Highways is committed to minimizing disruptions to the local community during the improvement work. While some level of disturbance is inevitable due to the nature of the activities, they assure road users that their team will make every effort to mitigate any disturbance.
The noisiest work will take place during the day to minimise disruption to local residents. This means traffic wanting to access the A167 towards Birtley or the A1 northbound from the A167 southbound, Low Fell or the B1296 Long Bank will be diverted.
The local diversion will take vehicles on the A1 southbound carriageway to junction 65 before returning on the A1 northbound to J66, connecting back on to the A167 or A1 northbound. For further information and updates on the A1 Birtley to Coal House Improvement Scheme, please visit https://nationalhighways.co.uk/A1birtleytocoalhouse or contact the dedicated helpline on 0300 123 5000.
