Work's new phase brings long delays

RIVERS have faced delays of up to half an hour since further roadworks on Newcastle's Central Motorway started this week.

- DANIEL HOLLAND

Monday marked the next phase of major disruption on the busy route which runs through the city centre.

For the next 16 months, a key stretch of the A167(M) will be reduced to just one lane in each direction to allow for significant repairs to decaying concrete. Motorists have been warned that the multi million pound maintenance project will result in heavy congestion and that has already proved the case.

The worst of the tailbacks came on Monday morning, when average delays of 29 minutes were recorded southbound between the Al junction at Kenton Bar and the Tyne Bridge. That situation has improved since, with Newcastle City Council saying that there were delays of seven and 12 minutes respectively during the morning rush hour on Tuesday and Wednesday.