Buses are to replace trains on a busy section of Metro line between Wallsend and St James in Newcastle for nine days to allow for a £1.7 million programme of bridge and tunnel modernisation work.
Nexus, the public body which runs Metro, is carrying out a series of structural repairs on four different Metro bridges and a section of tunnel in the Manors area of Newcastle during the major line closure.
Works on bridges at Stoddart Street and New Bridge Street – both of which carry traffic over the Metro lines – will include grit blasting, repainting, steel work repair, waterproofing and road resurfacing.
The project is part of the £43 million Nexus is investing in Metro infrastructure modernisation schemes this year.
The works mean that the line will be closed between St James and Wallsend for nine consecutive days, Saturday 24 August to Sunday 1 September.
The line will re-open to Metro services on Monday 2 September.
The frequent replacement bus service, 900, will run in the affected area, calling at or near all Metro stations on the route.
Stuart Clarke, Metro Infrastructure Director, said: “This nine-day major closure forms part of our ongoing multi-million pound programme of investment in Metro modernisation work.
“The focus of this project is on three bridges which need to undergo vital structural repair works and waterproofing. We will also be working on the entrance of the Metro tunnel near Manors, carrying out structural works.
“While there is no good time to close a large section of the Metro system, the works will improve Metro’s resilience in the future. We will do all we can to keep any disturbance to an absolute minimum, and I apologise in advance for the inconvenience this will cause.
“Customers will be provided with frequent replacement bus services throughout this work and need to allow a bit of extra time to make their journey in the area where the line is closed.”
Nexus has invested £446 million in infrastructure renewal since 2010, as well as commissioning a £362 million new train fleet for a network used by 31 million customers a year.
The works will be carried out on behalf of Nexus by specialist engineering and construction company, Amco-Giffen.
Image credit: Nexus
