A major North East road connecting Darlington with Newcastle has lifted its restrictions just before Christmas, giving drivers long‑awaited relief after years of disruption.
National Highways confirmed on Friday (December 19) that the Allerdene Bridge, part of the A1 Birtley to Coal House improvement scheme, would reopen fully on December 18 and 19 following repair work.
The scheme, which began in May 2021, covers the busy stretch of road near the Angel of the North, where the A1 crosses the East Coast Main Line. The work aims to improve journey times and reduce congestion.
The scheme will eventually widen the A1, giving three northbound lanes and four southbound lanes.
Engineers announced only a small number of welds on the bridge beams still need repairing, which can be done during overnight closures - allowing all lanes to remain open for the festive period.
A National Highways spokesperson said: “Our work is going well. We're erecting a complex scaffold so we can repair areas that aren't directly above the railway line.
“Repairs above the railway require careful work when the line is not in use. To reduce disruption, we are carrying out work on weekend nights and coordinating with Network Rail and train operators.”
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Roadworks will be paused over the Christmas period, allowing traffic to flow normally until work resumes in the new year.
Although some repair work will continue over the Christmas period, National Highways has assured motorists that it will not cause the same level of disruption motorists have previously experienced.
Motorists are advised to check the National Highways website or Traffic England for live updates.
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