Travel Advice

As work nears completion on the Tyne Bridge’s east side parapets, works will soon progress to the iconic structure’s main steel arch in early 2027, marking a major milestone in the restoration.

This important phase of works will see the Tyne Bridge closed from 11pm on Friday 23 October until 5am on Monday 2 of November, enabling specialist teams to work round the clock to building extensive scaffolding above the carriageway.

This will allow the bridge to remain open when work on the arch gets under way from next year.

Plan ahead to make your journey easier and support us with the bridge restoration.

Drivers

Heavy congestion is expected on the Quayside route, Swing Bridge and routes to and from Redheugh Bridge and all approaches to the Tyne Bridge from both Newcastle and Gateshead sides.

Public transport is strongly advised when travelling to and from Newcastle city centre and Gateshead town centre, whether or not you now drive over the Tyne.

For those travelling across the region it is recommended that the trunk roads and other river crossing options outside the central area are utilised, such as the A1, A19, Tyne Tunnel and Scotswood Bridge.

Key closure information (8pm-6am unless stated):

  • City Road, Newcastle will be closed from 12 to 14 October

  • From 15-16 October, the central motorway (southbound) will be closed 

  • The Tyne Bridge will be closed for three nights from 15 to 17 October (9pm-6am closure on 17th)

  • Gateshead High Street will be closed from 20 to 22 October 

  • Full 24-hour closure of Tyne Bridge to traffic, pedestrians and cyclists from 11pm on 23 October to 5am on 2 November

  • Overnight closures will take place on the Tyne Bridge during weeknights from 2 November to 1 December – 8pm to 6am. There will be three late starts during this period on 2 November, starting at 11:30pm, and 5 and 27 November, both starting at 10pm. 

  • A one-way restriction heading northbound on Lombard Street is in place until Spring 2027.

Pedestrians and Cyclists

During the full closures, between 23 October and 2 November, pedestrians and cyclists are advised to plan ahead and find alternative routes for travel.

Travel Advice for Pedestrians and Cyclists

Gateshead to Newcastle

If travelling from Gateshead to Newcastle during the Tyne Bridge closure, the following options are available for pedestrians and cyclists:

  • High Level Bridge provides access to St Nicholas Street, Westgate Road and Mosley Street, with onward routes to Newcastle City Centre. This is generally a level route.

  • Swing Bridge provides access via Bottle Bank to Newcastle Quayside, including Dean Street. This is generally not a level route.

  • Gateshead Millennium Bridge provides access via Bottle Bank and Hillgate to Newcastle Quayside, including Newcastle Law Courts and City Road. This is generally not a level route.

Newcastle to Gateshead

If travelling from Newcastle to Gateshead during the Tyne Bridge closure, the following options are available for pedestrians and cyclists:

  • High Level Bridge via Mosley Street, Westgate Road and St Nicholas Street provides access to Askew Road and Hill Street, with onward routes to Gateshead Town Centre. This is generally a level route.

  • Swing Bridge provides access to Gateshead via Dean Street and Newcastle Quayside to Bottle Bank. This is generally not a level route.

  • Gateshead Millennium Bridge provides access to Gateshead via Hillgate and Bottle Bank, or via Church Street from Newcastle Quayside, including Newcastle Law Courts and City Road. Please note, this is generally not a level route.

Secure cycle storage is available at Eldon Garden and Dean Street Multi-Storey Car Parks, with facilities also in development at Grainger Town Multi-Storey Car Park.

Almost all Metro stations offer some form of cycle storage, with secure cycle lockers at many stations. Cycle lockers are free to use and can be accessed with a Pop Pay As You Go card. Access must be added onto your Pop Card at South Gosforth Metro Control Centre. Visit the Nexus Cycle Locker webpage to find out more.

Public Transport

Public transport is strongly recommended when travelling to and from Newcastle city centre, Gateshead town centre and the quayside area.

Working with bus operators, a number of routes used by buses at key junctions have been improved to prioritise buses on the network to help buses keep to schedule.

Park & Ride

Metro’s park and ride facilities make using the system easy if you don’t live within walking distance of a station. There are major car parks at 10 suburban stations letting you switch easily from car to Metro. There's free parking on Sundays at the following Metro station car parks: Callerton Parkway, Bank Foot, Regent Centre, Four Lane Ends, Northumberland Park, Hebburn, Stadium of Light and also at Kingston Park.

Help to plan your park and ride is available online via the Nexus parking planner.  

Metrocentre Park and Ride

From 2 April 2024, a park and ride will be available within the Metrocentre Staff and Coach Park, located off A1114 Riverside Way, NE11 9SY. The entrance to the car park is from the roundabout of A1114 and Mandela Way. It is free of charge to park in the designated park and ride area of the car park. Disabled parking facilities are available and designated bays are marked immediately after the coach parking.

You can catch existing service buses which pass by the Park and Ride with buses leaving every few minutes. You will need to pay the relevant bus fare to use the bus for onwards travel. Fares are £2 per person each way, or £1 if you are under 21, or free of charge from 9:30am if you are a concessionary bus pass holder.

Up until 10am on weekdays you can catch a bus from the bus stop next to the Interchange entrance. After 10am you will need to go into the Interchange building (next to the bus stop), across the bridge and catch a bus from Stand L in the Metrocentre Interchange. 

The Park and Ride car park is open at all times and buses start from early in the morning until late at night.  

Bus timetables are available from Timetables & maps - Go North East or see Traveline North East to plan your journey.

Park and Ride for NUFC matches

On NUFC matchdays Go North East run the dedicated X50 service from the Metrocentre Staff and Coach Park. The X50 buses pick you up from within the car park and drop you off outside St James Park and can bring you back after full time. Follow the dedicated signs which advise which area of the car park to use for this service on matchdays. Further details can be found on the designated Go North East webpage.

Journey planning

Does changing your routine sound challenging? Try using a journey planner or get an app on your phone.

For businesses and other large organisations, you can get help with travel planning: