Queen Victoria Road and Claremont Road

We are making permanent changes to the road layout on Queen Victoria Road.

We will be building a new two-way cycle track along the length of the road and putting in new and safer junctions and crossing points. There will also be a new bus stop outside the hospital.

We’re investing £2.95m in the improvements, including £1.3m from the government’s Active Travel Fund, to make this busy city centre street safer for everyone.

We’ve developed the plans in consultation with the Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle University, local residents, businesses and road users. 

We’ve also taken on board feedback from people about the temporary traffic arrangements on Queen Victoria Road, which were put in place during the first Covid lockdown to support social distancing and active travel.

Work on nearby Claremont Road has already been completed as part of wider safety improvements in this area of the city. These works have included new pedestrian crossing facilities, widened footpaths and changes at the junction outside the car park to improve traffic flows and make it safer for people on foot and bikes.

When will work take place on Queen Victoria Road?

Preparation work has been under way since Monday 15 January 2024. This involved getting the road ready for the new traffic signals to be installed.

The main construction work started on Monday 4 March 2024. During this phase of the work we will be building the new cycle track and crossing points as well as installing the new traffic signals and bus stop.

This first phase of the work is now almost complete and we’ll be starting surfacing works over night on Sundays and Thursdays between 7.30pm and 7am from Sunday 28 July 2024.

Footway surfacing works will take place over two weeks between Sunday 28 July and Thursday 8 August. This will require temporary traffic signals and the current one way system shown on the map below will continue to operate.

Carriageway surfacing works will be carried out from Sunday 11 August until Thursday 22 August. This will require temporary road closures with signed diversion routes in place wherever possible.

As this phase of work is due to be completed ahead of schedule, we are now looking at how best to bring forward the second phase, which will involve further improvements at the junction with Claremont Road.

How will people be affected?

Now that the main work is under way, Queen Victoria Road will be temporarily one-way, northbound only, for vehicles from St Thomas Street to Claremont Road.

Two-way traffic will still be permitted on part of Queen Victoria Road, under temporary traffic signals, between Richardson Road and the junction with St Thomas' Street.

Pavements on both sides of the road are temporarily being used as shared space for people walking, wheeling and cycling while the works are carried out.

Access to the Royal Victoria Infirmary

Access to the hospital site will continue to be maintained but there may be temporary changes to the car park entry and exit points to allow work in these locations to be carried out safely.

We will continue to work with the RVI to minimise any disruption and keep people informed.

While the temporary one-way restriction is in place, vehicles will only be able to travel northbound along Queen Victoria Road, turning left into the hospital car parks.

If you are approaching from the Claremont Road end of the road and / or Central Motorway, you will need to follow the signed diversion routes.

Access to the Accident and Emergency Department, via Richardson Road, can also be reached via the signed diversion route if approaching from Claremont Road and Central Motorway.