Construction company, Balfour Beatty, has been awarded the £44m contract to widen the A1 Western Bypass around Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
The Highways Agency contract to widen the Bypass around Newcastle-upon-Tyne has been awarded to Balfour Beatty. The project will see the existing 4-mile dual carriageway expanded to three lanes in both directions. A new 0.33 mile parallel link road between junctions at Lobley Hill and A184 Gateshead Quays will also be built to carry north and south-bound traffic. It is hoped the new infrastructure will reduce congestion in the area.
Parliamentary under Secretary of State for Transport Robert Goodwill said: “Once completed in spring 2016, the A1 improvement to the Western Bypass will not only increase capacity by widening the road north to Metro Centre junction and south to Coal House junction, but also help economic growth in the area.”
Chief Executive Officer of Balfour Beatty Construction Services UK, Nicholas Pollard, said: “Balfour Beatty is delighted with the award of the A1 Coal House to Metro Centre road improvement scheme. We are intensely committed to working hard to improve the local transport infrastructure to help support and boost the local economy.”
Ahead of construction work starting, a public exhibition will be held in July to give local people information about the project and how it might affect the local area whilst the work is being carried out. These dates will be announced in due course.
Also discussing the works, Leader of Gateshead Council, Councillor Mick Henry, said: “The A1 Western Bypass has become Tyneside’s key artery. When complete, these improvements will increase capacity, improve road safety and reduce journey times. This will make a significant difference to the daily lives of many and provide a real boost to our region’s economy.”
Newcastle City Councillor Nick Forbes, who also has lead responsibility for transport on the North East Combined Authority, said: “I welcome this investment in tackling congestion and speeding up journey times. It’s is just one of the benefits of the City Deal which I signed with government in 2012. Although there will be some short term disruption while the work is carried out, the improvement will be well worth the wait.”
