Major disruption expected on key commuter route

A rolling programme of temporary road closures will be in place on Haddricks Mill as contractors carry out resurfacing as part of the £4 million improvements to the busy junction. 

Signed diversions will be in place and the council are urging people to use alternative routes. 

Cllr Arlene Ainsley, cabinet member for transport and air quality said: “As with any major junction improvement, the last stage of resurfacing is always the most disruptive as roads need to be closed to complete the task.  

“These essential works have been carefully planned to minimise disruption to the travelling public as we are carrying them out in July, when traffic is still quite light. 

“Throughout the programme, our teams have aimed to keep two-way traffic on all approaches to this major junction, but with six roads converging on to the Haddricks Mill junction, we can’t carry out the resurfacing safely and efficiently without closures in place. In order to complete the work as quickly as possible, teams will be on site for 18 hours a day where possible. 

“We recognise that this will cause significant disruption and we are urging the public to find alternative routes and avoid the junction.  

“We’d like to thank everyone for their patience during this part of the programme, but once complete this major commuter route will improve journey times and have addressed a major maintenance issues given the junction sits on top of a bridge.” 

The works to Haddricks Mill was due to complete by late Spring, but construction was shut down in March following the outbreak of coronavirus.  

The roadworks resumed in late April, with social distancing measures in place for the safety of the construction teams and the public. This has hampered the progress of the construction programme, but the council expect all work to be completed before schools go back this September. 

Full details of the closures will be listed at www.newcastle.gov.uk/roads 

All closures will be sign posted and diversion routes advised. 

The programme is as follows: 

Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 July  -  resurfacing a section of Freeman Road – closed between Haddricks Mill and Lartington Gardens 

Monday 13 and Tuesday 14 July – resurfacing the south side of the roundabout at the bottom of Freeman Road - Freeman Road open however there will be no direct access to Freeman Road from Station Road or Haddricks Mill Road.  There will also be no access to Killingworth Road or Benton Park Road from Freeman Road. 

Wednesday 15 July – resurfacing the north side of roundabout at the bottom of Freeman Road - Freeman Road open but no direct access to Freeman Rd from Station Road or Haddricks Mill Road. There will be no access to Benton Park Road from Station Road or Haddricks Mill Road or to Killingworth Road and Benton Park Road to any traffic from Freeman Road. 

Thursday 16 July – preparing the exit lane of Hunters Road to Killingworth Road - No access to Killingworth Road northbound from Station Road / Haddricks Mill Road / Freeman Road or Benton Park Road. Access to Hunters Road will be maintained but the exit from Hunters Road will be via the back lane. 

Thursday 16 July (evening 7.00pm onward) – preparing the bottom of Station Road / Hunters Road - Station Road Eastbound closed. All other routes open. Hunters Road exit re-opened and Hunters Road access via the back lane. 

Saturday 18 July – resurfacing the lanes between the two roundabouts - Freeman Road open however, there will be no direct access to Freeman Road and Benton Park Road from Station Road or Haddricks Mill Road. There will also be no access to Killingworth Road or Benton Park Road from Freeman Road. 

Sunday 19 July – resurfacing the exit lane of Hunters Road to Killingworth Road; the bottom of Station Road; Hunters Road access lane - Station Road will be closed eastbound. There will be no access to Killingworth Road north bound. Access and egress from Hunters Road access/egress will be flipped using the back lane as before.