Tyne and Wear Metro services between North Shields and Monkseaton will not run on Monday 11th March it has been announced – adding an extra day to the closure with the second bridge due to be replaced this weekend. As you may remember last weekend a two day closure for the first bridge replacement to take place wasn’t enough with services remaining disrupted for much of the Monday so Nexus have decided to review the schedule and pre-empt any further overrun by informing passengers ahead of this weekend of the extending closure.
This second weekend closure – part of a £2.5 million bridge replacement project – will see Beach Road Metro bridge in Tynemouth replaced and the chance will also be taken for some overhead line replacement work too.
On Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th March no trains will run between Wallsend and Monkseaton with Monday 11th March seeing the closure being between North Shields and Monkseaton. A replacement bus service will operate and Metro tickets will also be accepted on local bus services.
Huw Lewis, Customer Services Director at Nexus, said: “We have reviewed the schedule of work and we need an extra day to get the bridge replacement works done. I’m sorry for the short notice we are giving customers about this. We are replacing a bridge which dates back to the Victorian era and we need three full days to get the work done. We have a plan for this and that ensures we run replacement buses in the affected area. Please allow extra time for your journeys.”