A major Newcastle bridge desperate for repair will see road closures over the next few weeks for major inspection works.

The Tyne Bridge will be closed at various points over the next two weeks, forcing city centre motorists to find diversions to get south of the river.

The iconic crossing over the Tyne has been left to rust leaving it in desperate need of repair and repainting.

Newcastle Council say road closures will be in place over the next two weeks to allow engineers to carry out detailed inspections of the infamous bridge to provide full costings to the Government for repair work so it will sign off on up to £41m funding to restore the bridge to its former glory.

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Lane closures will be in place every day until Friday (July 1) from 8pm, with full road closures from 10pm to 6am the next day to allow for inspection of the steel arches which make the bridge so well known.

Pedestrians and cyclists will still be able to cross the bridge using one of the side footpaths.

The Great North Run signage will also be put up over the week ahead of the half marathon in September.

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Next week (Monday, July 4 to Friday, July 8) there will be further daytime closures between 9.30am and 3.30pm to allow engineers to inspect the bridge in daylight.

One southbound lane and the footpath on the east side of the bridge will both be closed, and diversions put in place for motorists.

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