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£22 million metro line modernisation to commence this weekend

This weekend will see work begin on a £22m metro line modernisation between Byker and Tynemouth.

The work will see Contractors employing up to 500 staff to work on replacing 12 kilometres of track.

Nexus said that the work would mean the complete closure of the line between Byker and Tynemouth for 23 days, from Saturday March 12 to Sunday April 3.

A replacement bus service (number 900) will run every 12 minutes and will call at or near to all Metro stations on the closed section of line.

Director general of Nexus, Bernard Garner, said: “The works that are taking place will be on a massive scale.

“We are spending over half a million pounds per day during the 23-day line closure. Hundreds of workers will be on site working right around the clock.

“The sheer scale of the works left us with no choice but to close the line. It does mean some disruption but the work is vital if Metro is going to continue meeting the needs of the people of Tyne and Wear and its economy for years to come.”

Refurbishments will take place at Howden, Meadow Well and Chillingham Road stations as well as a major rebuild of the North Shields metro station.

He added: “This is the biggest engineering project we’ve seen on Metro in more than 30 years.

“We’re modernising stations, laying new tracks, renewing Victorian embankments and upgrading bridges.

“It is part of the £385m Metro all change modernisation programme, which will ensure that Metro has a world class future.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .