‘Severe hold-ups’ as A1 roadworks start

Jul 27 2009 by Rob Pattinson, The Journal

COMMUTERS are today bracing themselves for delays which could result in the North East’s worst traffic jams in a decade.

Thousands of motorists are expected to leave their cars at home and switch to public transport in a bid to avoid the huge tailbacks anticipated as rush-hour traffic meets roadworks on the A1 in Gateshead.

The Highways Agency has warned of ‘severe’ hold-ups in both directions between the Team Valley roundabout and Eighton Lodge.

The southbound carriageway is reduced to one lane and northbound restricted to two narrow lanes as essential work to reinforce the Allerdene Bridge is carried out.

A 40mph speed limit and speed cameras have been imposed in both sections.

Efforts co-ordinated between local transport providers is expected to take some of the strain. Both Northern Rail and Go North East have introduced additional services to cope with the expected surge in demand.

Both operators have confirmed they expect to carry thousands of displaced commuters over the coming weeks.

The first indications of the extent of the delays were given across the weekend as swollen volumes of traffic heading to Ladies’ Day and the Sunderland International Airshow were caught in the queues.

But with the first rush hour looming this morning The Highways Agency last night warned road-users to switch to public transport, where possible, to avoid the queues.

Traffic experts have even advised workers to plead for permission to work at home from their employers.