A1 Scotswood to North Brunton

Latest updates

• 14 November 2022

  Minister celebrates successful scheme opening

  Roads Minister, Richard Holden, visited the region last week and officially marked the successful opening of this improvement scheme.

  The event including local stakeholders, project teams from both National Highways and Costain Jacobs Partnership, including some of the apprentices that worked on the scheme.

  A video highlighting the benefits of the scheme can be viewed here.

  Pictured are L-R

  Nick Harris, CEO National Highways, Richard Holden, Roads Minister, DfT, John Bourn, Transport North East, John Marshall, North East England Chamber of Commerce

  

• 10 October 2022

  Progress update Autumn 2022

  All of the traffic management has been removed from the project and the 60mph speed limit is now in force.

  All three lanes on the five-mile stretch between junctions 74 (Scotswood) and 79 (North Brunton), which carries on average 110,000 vehicles a day, are now fully open. An official completion ceremony will be held in the coming weeks.

• 31 May 2022

  Progress update Spring 2022

  What we’ve achieved so far

  

  We’ve finished installing the deep drainage and building up earthworks on the verges throughout the length of the scheme.

  All retaining walls, which are built to keep the soil in place, have been completed and we have started installing permanent fencing to the top of these.

  We have also progressed placement of concrete in the verges and added planting.

  Using overnight shifts we have been installing new surface water drainage channels, drainage kerbs and stretches of permanent barrier. We’ve also started surfacing of the existing carriageway and new lanes.

  We’ve also been probing for mine shafts, installing the foundations for new traffic signs and laying new drainage kerbs.

  Sustainable drainage – SUDS - pond update

  

  Surface water that drains from the section of the A1 north of the Ouseburn is now going to be discharged via the SUDS pond.

  The pond helps remove hydrocarbons, sediment, and heavy metals from the water, which helps improve the water quality in the Ouseburn. It will also encourage biodiversity.

  Work started in January 2022 and a new boundary fence is in place which will make the pond safer by preventing accidental access for people and animals; the footpath has now reopened to the public.

  We will continue to monitor the water quality and the plants and animals using the pond.

  What’s next?

  Over the next few months we will continue to install drainage channels and kerbs to let surface water drain off the carriageway. We’ll also be installing any remaining stretches of permanent safety barrier. This will allow us to remove a lot more of the old safety barrier and start to resurface more sections of both the added lanes and the existing carriageway.

  

  Following this work, our next step will be to install the overhead signs, which we call gantries. These signs will be used to give customer travel advice and warn of incidents.

  We are working hard to complete the scheme as early as possible this Autumn. Over the next few months, areas of cones and traffic restrictions will be removed. However, we will need to continue to close the carriageway overnight to get as much work completed as quickly as we can. As a result, the 50mph speed limit will remain in place for your safety until the works are complete. 

• 09 February 2022

  Come and meet the team - public information events

  We're holding some public information events where you can meet the team, find out about progress, and ask any questions you have.

  Monday 21 February
  Grand Hotel, High Gosforth Park, Newcastle
  upon Tyne NE3 5HN
  2pm – 8pm

  
  Wednesday 23 February
  B&Q, Scotswood Rd, Scotswood, Newcastle
  upon Tyne NE15 6U
  10am – 4pm

  
  Saturday 26 February
  Kingston Park Tesco, Brunton Lane, Newcastle
  upon Tyne NE3 2FP
  10am - 4pm

• 25 January 2022

  Closure of footpath A1 southbound junction 79 to 78 for drainage installation

  We’ll be working in the area next to the A1 between junctions 79 and 78 during the day for the next three months.

  We have closed the footpath between Featherstone Grove and the Ouseburn to install drainage to take run off water from the A1 into a nearby pond.

  This pond was originally constructed as a Sustainable Drainage System (SUDS) to receive highways surface water runoff but had not been connected until now.

  Assessments have shown that some of the current run off water going in to the Ouseburn is below ideal water quality standards.

  To address this, surface water from the section of the A1 north of the Ouseburn will now be drained via the SUDS pond which will help remove hydrocarbons, sediment and heavy metals from the water.

  We’ve worked with the land owner to get permission to close the footpath so we can carry out the work safely.

  We have also installed temporary fencing to section off the area we need to work in.

  We’ve provided a diversion route, which we have been stabilising by installing some stones in a small section, to cover the muddy areas and make the route more level and safe for people to walk on. We’re also installing some solar panel lighting to improve safety.

   

   

• 16 September 2021

  Come and meet the project team - public information events

  We are delighted to be able to hold some information events where members of our project team can update on the scheme's progress and answer any questions you may have.

  Hope to see you there.

  Thursday 23 September 2021

  Green Zone, outside House of Fraser, Cameron Walk, Intu Metro Centre Gateshead NE11 9YE

  10am - 3pm

  Saturday 25 September 2021

  Tesco Extra, Brunton Lane, Kingston Park, Newcastle NE3 2FP

  10am - 3pm

  Tuesday 28 September 2021

  Morrisons car park, Cowgate, 200 Two Ball Lonnen, Newcastle NE4 9SZ

  12 - 6pm

• 18 August 2021

  New milestone reached with traffic switch

  This weekend sees a change to the road layout marking the next  significant milestone on this scheme.  

  From the night of Friday, 20 August southbound traffic travelling from junction 77 (Pontelaw Road) to junction 74 (Scotswood) will be switched from its current position in the existing lanes one and two over to the new lanes two and three, closer to the concrete safety barrier. 

  This final traffic switch is a major milestone in the project as it means we have completed the full central reservation and the public will now be travelling in the new lanes two and three for the full length of the project, in both directions. 

  The switch will be carried out under a full closure of the southbound A1 between junctions 77 and 73 (Blaydon) from 8pm on Friday, 20 August to 6am the following morning and again overnight on Saturday, 21 August. Clearly signed diversions will be in place.  

• 08 July 2021

  Progress update - June/July 2021

  What have we achieved?

  During June we continued to work on earthworks widening and drainage activities north of J77 in the verges.

  In the southern section, we concentrate our efforts on completing the central reservation hardening works, which involved drilling and grouting mineshafts under the ground.

  We also installed a new concrete safety barrier and wrapped bridge piers to give additional protection for when the traffic moves over into the new lanes 2 and 3.

  We also began working in the verges in the southern section, clearing vegetation and removing traffic signs and barriers which will be replaced later in the project.

  What's next?

  During July we will continue with our earthworks widening and drainage activities in the northern section, as well as installing new lighting columns along the new concrete safety barrier.

  These should be working by the end of the month and provide our workforce and the general public with lighting along this corridor of the project.

  In the southern section, we will complete the hardening of the central reservation and remove all temporary barrier out of the centre.

  We will then begin surfacing the main carriageway and moving traffic over to the new lanes 2 and 3 so we can start our earthworks widening and drainage work.

  As usual all closures will be listed on the webpage and on our Twitter feed: @HighwaysNEAST

• 15 June 2021

  Forthcoming work between junctions 77 and 79, w/c 21 June

  We need to undertake essential improvement works on the A1 between junctions 77 and 79.

  These improvements are a vital aspect of our strategy to deliver the largest investment in a generation throughout England’s motorways and major A roads.

  We need to use a saw to cut through the carriageway as part of the ongoing activity on site. We'll start week commencing Monday 21 June and will run for approximately 4 days. This will take place between the hours of 8pm and 6am.

  The equipment we use means some disturbance to residents closest to the carriageway is unavoidable, but we will make every effort to minimise any unnecessary noise.  We have also carried out a noise assessment and monitor noise levels regularly during the work.

  Safety is our number one priority and for this reason work of this type must be carried out while our roads are the quietest.  This is typically at times that cause the least disruption to our roads and also ensures the safety of the workforce.  This means carrying out some of our improvements during the night. 

• 02 June 2021

  Team tackles litter problem

  

  Our team working on the scheme has worked with residents to tackle litter at Birchfield Gardens, improving the local area. Litter had been thrown from passing vehicles and become trapped in vegetation on a piece of land between houses and the entry slip road at junction 75. 

  Our delivery partners, Costain and Jacobs, removed bushes, collected three bags of litter and also grassed the area. This makes it more attractive for the residents, as well as easier to maintain. 

  Litter is a serious issue – it harms the environment and is an eyesore. That’s why we keen to work with residents on projects like this, to help clean-up areas. But the real solution is to prevent litter being dropped in the first place. We’re asking drivers to do their bit to reduce litter alongside roads. The Great British Spring Clean campaign is run by Keep Britain Tidy and takes place between 28 May and 13 June. It’s hoped that projects such as this and campaigns will highlight the importance of working together to tackle the litter problem.

  For more information on the Great British Spring Clean visit Keep Britain Tidy’s website.

• 07 May 2021

  Progress Update (May 2021)

  What we’ve done

  During April, we’ve made some significant progress on the A1 Scotswood to North Brunton scheme. We’ve split the works into two halves to help us deliver the project as efficiently as possible.

  In the northern section of the scheme, between J77 and J79, our earthworks team have started working in the northbound verge.

  They have been excavating the existing verges to make them wider for the additional lane. We’ve also started to install a new drainage system to replace the existing system. A new system is required to support the increased surface water runoff that will be created by the third lane.

  In the southern part of the scheme, between J74 at Scotswood and J77 at Kenton Bar, we’re still working during the night in the central reservation to construct the new concrete barrier. There’s lots of old mine workings in the area so we’ve been injecting them with concrete to stabilize them.

  What’s next

  
  In the northern half of the scheme, we’ll be continuing our excavation and drainage works. We’ve already started this in the northbound direction and will be making a start on the southbound verge soon.

  
  In the southern half of the scheme, we’ll be continuing to work overnight in the central reservation to install the new concrete barrier and carry out some drainage works.

  
  We will then resurface the new lanes 2 and 3 with our low-noise surfacing. Once this has been completed, we will then gradually change our traffic management. This will involve removing and repainting white lines, changing signage and moving temporary barriers. Once this has been completed, the traffic will flow closer to the new central reservation barrier, allowing us to start work in the verges later this summer.

• 02 March 2021

  Progress update – March 2021

  There will be big changes throughout March, with the completion of the northern traffic switch. This will see the new lane 2 and lane 3 resurfacing completed, and the traffic will move into these lanes permanently.

  This will then allow our construction teams to move into the verges to carry out widening works between junctions 77 and 79 during the day. Northbound daytime working will start in mid-March followed by southbound daytime working starting before the start of April.

  Once daytime working starts this will significantly reduce the number of overnight closures in this northern part of the scheme, with the majority of works planned for during the day with two lanes of the A1 remaining open to traffic at all times.

  In the southern part of the scheme, work will continue to grout underground mine workings and we’ll complete the hardening of the central reservation.

  This will allow us to start work on the second phase of building the new concrete safety barrier at junction 77, heading towards junction 75.

• 19 February 2021

  New concrete barrier to be moved into position

  We’ve created the new concrete barrier in the central reservation and over the next four to six weeks we’ll be able to move that into position and resurface the road, creating the new lane 2 and 3.

  This will allow us to start working in the verges to add the additional lane which will reduce congestion in the area. This will continue throughout the year and will include replacing the drainage which will prevent flooding on the A1.

  Some of this work will be taking place during the day, however we’ll still need some overnight closures due to the nature of the work and the equipment we’ll need to use.

  These closures will be between 8pm and 6am and will be a mixture of lane and full closures. Clearly signed diversions will be in place.

• 04 January 2021

  Construction update

  From mid-January we will be moving the traffic closer to the central reservation so that we can start the preparation work in the verges for the construction of the additional lane. The change in the temporary road layout will change significantly over a number of weeks.

  We will be carrying out some work during the day but unfortunately, we also need to carry out some of the work at night.

  The equipment we use means some disturbance is unavoidable, but we will make every effort to minimise any unnecessary noise.  Furthermore, those working on site are briefed on working responsibly in the local community. We have also carried out a noise assessment and monitor noise levels regularly during the work.

  Safety is our number one priority and for this reason work of this type must be carried out while our roads are the quietest.  This is typically overnight as this causes the least disruption to our roads and it also ensures the safety of the workforce. 

  Overnight closures are listed daily on our Twitter feed @HighwaysNEAST

  For more information please check out our FaceBook page.

  Or follow us on Twitter - @HighwaysNEAST

• 18 December 2020

  Construction stops for Christmas and New Year

  Work has now stopped until 4 January 2021.

  The traffic management will remain in place during this time, along with the 50mph speed limit.

  From mid-January we'll move the traffic closer to the central reservation so that we can start the preparation work in the verges for the construction of the additional lane. The change in the temporary road layout will change significantly over a number of weeks.

  We'll carry out some work during the day but unfortunately, we also need to carry out some of the work at night.

  The equipment we use means some disturbance is unavoidable, but we'll make every effort to minimise any unnecessary noise. Furthermore, those working on site are briefed on working responsibly in the local community. We've also carried out a noise assessment and monitor noise levels regularly during the work.

  Safety is our number one priority and for this reason work of this type must be carried out while our roads are the quietest. This is typically overnight as this causes the least disruption to our roads and it also ensures the safety of the workforce. 

  Overnight closures are listed daily on our Twitter feed @HighwaysNEAST

  For more information please check out our Facebook page.

   

• 07 October 2020

  Central barrier removal work begins

  Work has started to remove the existing central reservation barrier which is being upgraded as part of the scheme. We’re currently carrying out drainage work, and surveys to ensure we don’t disrupt any of the existing services that are underneath. Next month we’ll be starting resurfacing and installing the new concrete barrier which will improve safety for the thousands of drivers who use the route every day.

  All this work is being carried out overnight (8pm to 6am) under lane and full carriageway closures. Clearly signed diversions will be in place.