Scotswood Bridge in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, will be closed to vehicular traffic for 12 hours on Sunday 1 February 2026 to allow for essential maintenance and safety inspections. The closure is set to run from 6:00am until 6:00pm and is expected to affect weekend commuters and local delivery traffic.
Engineers from Gateshead Council, in coordination with Newcastle City Council, will use the time to carry out a detailed examination of the bridge structure and its joints. These routine checks form part of a long-term asset-management programme intended to keep the bridge safe and to avoid longer closures or more expensive repairs in future.
Drivers heading west will be diverted via the A1 (Blaydon Bridge), while eastbound traffic will be directed toward the Redheugh Bridge. Bus services operated by Go North East (routes affected include services such as the 10 and 12) will follow temporary diversions; passengers are advised to allow an extra 15–20 minutes for their journeys while services run different routes.
Historically, during Scotswood Bridge maintenance one footway has usually been kept open for pedestrians, and cyclists have commonly been asked to dismount and push across. Gateshead Council’s published notices for this closure do not explicitly confirm the footway arrangements for 1 February, so pedestrians and cyclists should check the council or operator updates before travelling.
The council says the work has been scheduled for a Sunday to keep disruption as low as possible for local businesses and workers. A one-day, daytime closure allows the bridges team to complete tasks that might otherwise require a week of overnight lane closures.
For the latest travel information and any last-minute changes, see Gateshead Council’s roadworks and bridge notices and Go North East service updates.
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