Gateshead Flyover Closure Marked with Cake as Demolition Delays Continue

The closure of the A167 flyover in Gateshead has been marked by a unique celebration—a cake shaped like the structure itself. The event, organized by the Liberal Democrat opposition councillors, commemorated one year since the flyover was shut down over serious safety concerns. During the cake-cutting ceremony, Lib Dem leader Ron Beadle urged the Labour-led council to expedite the demolition process.

The flyover, which has been closed to traffic since March 2023, is now awaiting demolition. Martin Gannon, the leader of Gateshead Council, had previously suggested that the flyover would be dismantled by the end of this year. However, recent council communications indicate that demolition is not expected to commence until early 2024, with full removal projected for May 2026.

As Beadle sliced into the cake, he expressed frustration over the delay, stating, “We are doing this because in March, the leader of Gateshead Council said the flyover would be gone by the end of the year. And it is one year on and nothing is gone.” He criticized the council for spending much of the year attributing the situation to past administrations while neglecting to conduct thorough inspections, claiming that proper evaluations had not been carried out for three decades.

The safety of the flyover became a pressing issue after it was discovered that a specific inspection of the steel cables, known as a post-tensioned special inspection (PTSI), had not been performed for 28 years before its closure. Nevertheless, the council maintains that routine maintenance identified issues that warranted the flyover’s closure, prioritizing public safety.

In a statement to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Gannon defended the decision to shut down the flyover, emphasizing that it was based on an unexpected problem detected in the concrete pillars during a routine inspection. “It was not because of the failure to have a PTSI inspection,” he clarified, “but rather due to a problem with the pier that was identified through our regular monitoring.”

Despite the ambitious target to have the flyover demolished by the end of the financial year in April 2026, Gannon acknowledged the complexity of the project. He expressed confidence in the council’s team and committed to keeping the public informed about progress.

As engineers prepare to demolish the adjacent Computer House office block, the timeline for the flyover’s removal remains uncertain. Local authorities are particularly concerned about potential disruptions to Metro train services running through tunnels beneath the highway.

The ongoing situation has prompted calls for greater accountability from Gateshead Council, as residents and opposition leaders seek clarity and reassurance regarding public safety and infrastructure integrity.