Landscaping plans for Tyne Tunnel area

Aug 25 2009 by Tony Henderson, The Journal

ATTEMPTS to revive the pedestrian and cycle tunnels will be made as the building of the second Tyne Tunnel nears completion.

A consultation which began yesterday is seeking public input into landscaping plans for areas around the new and existing vehicle tunnels once construction work is complete.

One of the major projects will be the re-creation of what was Jarrow Riverside Park, which is currently an enormous building site.

Proposals include a 50-space car park with sweeping views of the river and an open air amphitheatre performance space. The plans also include improving visibility of and links to the nearby listed pedestrian/cycling tunnels.

In their 1950s heyday, the tunnels were used by 20,000 people a day but reaching that total now takes a whole month.

The aim is to come up with ideas on how more walkers and cyclists can be encouraged to use what for many is a forgotten cross-river link.

“If the environment surrounding the tunnels is improved it can only help,” said New Tyne Crossing project officer Paul Fenwick. “When they were opened there was a lot more employment on the riversides and less people had access to cars but we are now open to ideas on how we can promote the tunnels.”