Standfirst: The Tyne Bridge between Newcastle upon Tyne and Gateshead will close completely from 23 October to 2 November 2026 while a protective deck is installed for restoration work. Drivers, pedestrians, cyclists and bus passengers should expect diversions, longer journeys and changes to connections across Tyneside.
The Tyne Bridge closure will remove a key crossing between Newcastle and Gateshead for ten days, affecting vehicles, walkers and cyclists during a major phase of the bridge’s restoration. The full closure begins at 23:00 on Friday 23 October 2026 and is scheduled to end at 05:00 on Monday 2 November.
Both councils are advising people to avoid travelling through central Newcastle and Gateshead by car where possible. Visitors arriving for accommodation, shopping, riverside attractions or onward transport should allow additional time and check live bus and road information before setting out.
When the Tyne Bridge closure takes place
The full closure is separate from the later overnight restrictions planned while restoration continues. The main dates are:
- 23 October at 23:00 to 2 November at 05:00: no vehicles, pedestrians or cyclists may use the bridge.
- 24 October to 1 November: Metro engineering works replace trains with buses between St James and Monkseaton.
- 2 November to 1 December: weeknight vehicle closures are normally scheduled from 20:00 to 06:00.
- 2 November: the evening vehicle closure begins at 23:30.
- 5 and 27 November: the evening restrictions begin at 22:00.
During the later night-time vehicle closures, pedestrians and cyclists are scheduled to retain access. The timetable is weather dependent and may be adjusted around major events and football crowds.
How Newcastle and Gateshead journeys will be affected
The bridge was already operating with two lanes under restoration-related traffic management and carries approximately 24,000 vehicles each day. Closing it completely is expected to put pressure on surrounding crossings and approaches, including the Quayside, Swing Bridge and routes towards Redheugh Bridge.
Road users are being directed towards alternative crossings such as:
- the A1;
- the A19 Tyne Tunnel; and
- Scotswood Bridge.
These alternatives may also become congested as traffic is redistributed. People walking or cycling can use the High Level Bridge, Swing Bridge or Gateshead Millennium Bridge. The High Level Bridge is generally level, while some approaches through the Quayside include gradients.
Bus diversions and changed connections
Bus passengers face route changes, altered stops and, in some cases, a required interchange. Go North East services 22, 28, 28B, 29, 58, X1, X1A, X1B and X21 are scheduled to terminate at Gateshead Interchange, meaning passengers continuing to Newcastle must change buses.
Other Go North East services are using alternative routes:
- Services 21, X10, X32, X70, X71A and X72 are scheduled to reach Eldon Square via Redheugh Bridge without intermediate stops from Gateshead Interchange.
- Services 27, 56, 57, 58A, X58 and N21 use Swing Bridge towards Market Street and serve Guildhall on the diversion.
- Service 54 runs to Gateshead Interchange but does not serve Newcastle city centre, the Quayside or Askew Road.
Go North East recommends that passengers travelling from Newcastle allow 10 to 15 minutes more than usual when boarding affected services. Arriva’s northbound X12 service runs from Gateshead Interchange to Eldon Square but omits John Dobson Street. Services from Newcastle towards Durham and Middlesbrough retain their normal route under the published arrangement.
High winds may change bus diversions
High winds have also affected the planned diversion arrangements for double-decker buses using Redheugh Bridge. Some services are being routed through Bottle Bank, Centrelink and the High Level Bridge. These changes may create further delays, particularly when displaced Tyne Bridge traffic is heavy.
Passengers should therefore treat live operator information as more reliable than an earlier downloaded timetable or route map.
Metro and park-and-ride alternatives
Metro services continue between Newcastle city centre and Gateshead, but separate engineering works affect part of the network from 24 October to 1 November. Replacement buses are scheduled between St James and Monkseaton.
Travellers arriving by car may be able to avoid the busiest central approaches by using park-and-ride or interchange points:
- From the south: Heworth, or Metrocentre for local rail and bus connections.
- From the north: Regent Centre, Kingston Park or Four Lane Ends for Metro connections.
These options can reduce the need to drive into Newcastle or Gateshead, although final journey times will still depend on road conditions and bus diversions.
Why the bridge is closing
The closure allows specialist teams working for Esh Construction to install an overhead protection deck across the bridge’s road and footpaths. The deck will create a protected tunnel beneath the work area, allowing restoration of the main arch to progress in early 2027.
Scaffold supports and beams must be installed across the full width of the crossing, which is why the public cannot use the bridge during the initial construction period. Up to 70% of the deck is expected to be completed during the ten-day closure; that is a planned work target rather than a progress figure.
Once completed, the protected route will have a 4.95-metre height limit. Double-decker buses are expected to remain within the permitted limit.
What visitors should do
Newcastle and Gateshead remain open to visitors, but moving between the two centres will take more planning during the closure. Travellers should:
- check bus, Metro and road updates before leaving;
- allow extra time for airport, rail and accommodation connections;
- consider park-and-ride facilities instead of driving into the centres;
- use the High Level Bridge, Swing Bridge or Millennium Bridge when walking or cycling;
- check whether a bus journey ends at Gateshead Interchange and requires a change; and
- follow live updates if strong winds trigger further diversions.
The wider restoration programme includes repairs to steelwork, concrete, stonework and masonry, followed by repainting in Hollybush Green. Work below the carriageway is expected to finish by the end of 2026, with restoration of the main arch beginning in early 2027. The programme remains scheduled for completion before the bridge’s centenary in October 2028.
The latest position for travellers
The immediate Tyne Bridge closure runs from late on 23 October until early on 2 November 2026, with additional weeknight vehicle restrictions continuing into December. The crossing itself is not available to any users during the full closure, while surrounding roads and public transport services may face delays.
The most practical approach is to avoid central road journeys where possible, use alternative crossings or public transport, and check the relevant council, Metro and bus-operator updates immediately before travelling.