North Shields Bridge Set For £100k Maintenance After Demolition Saved

Hey, listen to this! A bridge in North Shields will get fixed up. They saved it from being torn down. The Borough Road Bridge links two streets; it goes from Waldo Street to Tennyson Terrace.

The council once wanted to remove the bridge, but an inspector stopped them in May 2023. Now, the bridge needs some work right away, and the repairs will cost about £100,000 because it is old and has rust damage.

The council director, John Sparkes, talked about the repairs. He said they need to extend the bridge’s life and will use money from the Local Transport Plan. They will also do more repairs later.

The council originally said fixing it would cost too much and it’s not used enough. They thought it could cost £360,000 to fix, while demolishing it would only cost £60,000.

However, some people wanted to save the bridge. They said removing it would hurt some people, especially older or disabled residents, as the bridge helps them avoid a busy road.

The inspector agreed, stating the closure would affect vulnerable people and might prevent them from exercising. This, in turn, could impact their health.