A1(M) Vigo Railway

We are installing a tunnel liner under the existing A1 motorway bridges and realigning the cycleway in Chester le Street.

Start date September 2019

End date April 2021

Cost TBC

Latest updates

06 April 2021

Opening schedule

We are very close to completing work on the cycle route which will open up fully shortly.

After that, we still have some work to do to remove the ramp and the work compound. This will take a further few weeks. We expect to be completing the final resurfacing on Picktree Lodge in mid May.
01 August 2020

Foundation work complete

We have successfully completed laying the foundation and now we are installing the steel tunnel liner under the bridge.

We will infill the steel liner with a concrete surround to finish the structural works on the new bridge and realign the Coast to Coast cycle route.

We will remove the access ramp and the compound shortly before scheme completion.
19 September 2019

Work resumes following testing

We have completed the testing we were asked to do by the council and are now returning to site, reinstating the compound and getting ready to fully resume work. We will be building a temporary footpath before installing a new steel tunnel liner under the A1M Vigo Lane Railway bridge, which will realign the Coast to Coast cycle route.

See more updates

Project information

The work is needed to ensure the safety of the tunnel and longevity of the bridge. This will involve temporarily closing the Sustrans cycle route and providing an alternative diversion. The works were stopped in November 2018 following the discovery of technical issues which have now been resolved.

The aims of this scheme are to provide: