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A huge North East demolition project has reached a major milestone.
The Gateshead Highway flyover, a 1960s concrete structure, has been fully dismantled after six months of work, marking a significant step forward in wider regeneration plans for Gateshead town centre.
Demolition began in April, led by BAM and specialist contractor Thompsons of Prudhoe.
(Image: Joe Sheridan/Northern Echo Camera Club)
The final span was brought down before the end of September.
Dale Owens, chief executive of Gateshead Council, said: "This is a day to thank all those who have played a part in this demolition programme – it’s been a phenomenal achievement to bring the flyover down in under six months.
"We are also grateful for people’s patience with the disruption it caused.
"We know it’s not been an easy process for local residents, businesses and drivers – but people have been incredibly supportive.
"Now we want to look ahead to what this programme means for Gateshead, and the opportunities it opens up."
(Image: Joe Sheridan/Northern Echo Camera Club)
The flyover was made up of 27 spans, four access ramps, and a large abutment at its southern end.
A total of 30,000 tonnes of concrete and steel were removed.
Mr Owens said: "We have ambitions to hugely increase the number of homes in and around our town centre, and to make this a place where people want to live, and where they can enjoy a vibrant leisure and retail offer.
"We are already working with some major developers to bring other town centre sites forward, and plans for the area around the flyover and beyond will come together over the coming months.
"We will be consulting with everyone in Gateshead on those plans."
Dale and Nick (Image: Gateshead Council)
While the flyover’s main structure is now gone, around three months of work remain to clear debris and reinstate road features.
Jim Smyth, senior agent for BAM, said: "Our priority throughout the project has been to demolish the flyover in a safe and controlled manner, while keeping disruption to local residents, businesses and road users to a minimum.
"Thanks to the huge amount of planning, coordination and collaboration between Thompsons of Prudhoe, Gateshead Council and our highly skilled project team, we’ve successfully brought down all 27 spans of the flyover safely and on schedule."
He added: "We’d like to thank the local community for their patience and support while the demolition has been taking place.
"There is still work to do to clear the site and reinstate the surrounding infrastructure, but reaching this milestone marks an important moment for the project and for the future of the area."
(Image: Gateshead Council)
The A167 flyover had been closed since December 2024 after engineers raised concerns about the structural integrity of sections of the 1960s-built structure.
Before its closure, the A167 flyover carried up to 40,000 vehicles a day.
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The estimated cost of the demolition has risen from about £18 million to £31 million, with overnight work to reduce traffic cited as one factor.
No decision has yet been made on the future use of the road that ran beneath the flyover.
Plans will be shaped through public engagement and consultation in the coming months.