A busy section of Metro line in Newcastle is to close for five days for a £1.6 million programme of overhead line renewal work.
Nexus, the public body which owns and manages Metro, will carry out the major line closure between South Gosforth and Airport, Monday March 20 to Friday 24 March.
The five-day closure will deliver new overhead line along a 3km section, forming part of a £36.4 million wire renewal programme that started in 2011 and is expected to run through to 2025.
A total of 106km of wire is being replaced in a rolling programme, which is one of the biggest maintenance projects ever undertaken on Metro.
Customers will be provided with a frequent replacement bus, 900, service during the closure, calling at or near all Metro stations on the affected route.
The line will re-open as usual on Saturday 25 March.
Metro Infrastructure Director, Stuart Clarke, said: “This is vital investment in new Metro infrastructure ahead of welcoming our new trains.
“The work to replace such a long stretch of overhead line can only be carried out safely during a major line closure. This will be in place for five full days, March 20 to March 24.
“I understand this causes some disruption, and we always try to make closures as short as possible and to provide a good replacement bus service when there are lines affected, but it is necessary to make sure that the Metro system is fit for the future.”
During the major line closure the Fawdon level crossing will be closed to both vehicle and pedestrian traffic and diversionary routes will be in place.
A shuttle taxi service will be in service for pedestrians on each day of the closure between to transfer customers to each side of the crossing if they need transport.
Image credit: Nexus
