ESSENTIAL repair work will start on the A19 Tees Viaduct next month leading to a series of full weekend closures.

Highways England will be carrying out work on the joints of the 45-year-old bridge which are coming to the end of their useable life and need replacing

The layout of the road and nature of the work means it can only be carried out safely if one of the A19 carriageways is closed.

Senior project manager Ben Dobson said: “We understand a weekend closure will cause disruption, so we’re letting people know in advance so people can start planning their journeys.

"Safety is our top priority and it’s crucial we take measures to stop the structure deteriorating to a point that it could become a safety issue.

We’ve worked closely with Stockton Borough Council and Middlesbrough Council to arrange diversion routes and ensure drivers see advance warning signs and have talked to local organisations about our plans.”

Councillor Ashley Waters, Middlesbrough Council’s executive member for regeneration, said: “The Tees Viaduct is a key gateway to Middlesbrough, so it is vital for the prosperity of the local economy that it is maintained to a high standard.

“The weekend closures will allow the joint replacement works to be carried out as quickly as possible, and we are working closely with Highways England and Autolink to ensure that any disruption whilst these works are underway is minimised.”

The one-lane closures will be in place from 9pm on Friday to 6am on Monday over the following weekends; March 6, northbound, March 20, southbound, March 27, southbound and April 17, southbound.

Traffic is likely to be busiest between 10am and 6pm on the Saturdays and Sundays, so Highways England advises drivers to allow plenty of time for their journeys.

For more details about the closures click here or follow Highways England’s regional Twitter feed at @HighwaysNEAST.