Work to demolish the first Tyne and Wear Metro station to have closed permanently since the network opened in 1980 at South Shields has started. The station closed to passengers on 8th July to make way for a brand new transport interchange which opened in August and now contractors have started to the painstaking task of demolishing the old structure in full.
The demolition work will include the removal of the station’s enamel panels and signage before a specialist contractor is brought in to remove the main structure of the building. It is planned that a new public realm will be created in its place including a new walkway into King Street.
Peter Lewis, Nexus Project Manager, said: “The demolition process has started. The old station is being taken down piece by piece. The panels that covered the building’s exterior have been taken out and this has exposed the brickwork of the building and that will be taken out. This is the safest method of demolition. We are taking care not to do anything that will affect the Metro embankments or the running line, which will still be needed. Once the demolition work has been completed the work can start on transforming the public realm through to the main shopping areas on King Street.”