Tunnel closes for building work on new Tyne route.

THE Tyne Tunnel is to close over a weekend as part of the construction of a key section of the new tunnel.

And on the same weekend a stretch of the A19 north of the tunnel will also be closed to allow the demolition of a bridge.

From 5am on Saturday July 11 until 11pm on Sunday July 12 the tunnel will be shut to enable vital construction of the new south junction road bridges to take place.

Once completed the south junction will include a new loop road bridge, which will provide a direct link for Jarrow and South Shields traffic with the A19, as well as a replacement road bridge for the existing Howard Street bridge.

The construction of these new road bridges requires numerous large and very heavy concrete beams to be lowered into place on to pillars.

Large cranes and other machinery will be located within the A19 carriageway in order to lift and position the beams, preventing access to the tunnel for other vehicles. Therefore a full tunnel closure is essential, say planners.

The timing of the closure is dependent on several factors including meeting the complex project programme for the New Tyne Crossing and avoiding the period of major road works planned on the A1 at Allerdene Bridge from July 25.

Motorists can obtain further information via the project website www.newtynecrossing.info or from the 24-hour helpline on [phone]