A1 Birtley to Coal House

Traffic on this busy section of the A1 is congested, especially during peak hours – making journeys unreliable. The number of vehicles using the road will increase with new housing and employment developments planned for the area, so road improvements are needed.

Start date July-Sept 2021
End date 2024 - 25
Cost TBC

Latest updates

  • 14 October 2024

    Demolition of the old Allerdene Bridge

    We are about to begin the next phase of the A1 Birtley to Coal House improvement scheme. This vital project is part of the largest investment in road infrastructure in the region for a generation.

    From Saturday, 19 October, we will begin demolishing the old Allerdene Bridge. The work will take place every Saturday night from midnight until around 7am on Sunday mornings and will continue until Spring 2025. In addition to this, there will be 7 periods of 24-hour working (details below).

    The bridge crosses the East Coast Mainline, which is used by passenger and freight trains linking Scotland and the North East to the rest of the UK. We are working closely with Network Rail to ensure this demolition is completed safely and with as little disruption as possible.

    Why is the work happening at night?

    We can only carry out the demolition at night, when trains aren’t running. The process will begin after the last train on Saturday night and finish before the first train on Sunday morning. This work is essential for safety and must follow a specific plan. Please note, the activity will be noisy and may cause local disturbance.

    Christmas Day and Boxing Day demolition

    We would like to give you advance notice of major demolition activity on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, when we will start removing the central structure of the old bridge. This will be much louder than previous stages, and we will be working 24 hours a day during this period. We understand this could impact holiday plans, and we are providing this early notification so you can make arrangements if necessary.

    Following Christmas, there will be additional 24-hour demolition sessions on the dates outlined below.

    Key demolition dates

    Saturday night only (midnight Saturday to 7am Sunday)

    • 19 October to 21 December
    • 4 January to 1 February

    24-hour working

    • Midnight Wednesday 25 December – 6am Friday 27 December
    • Midnight Saturday 8 February – 6am Monday 10 February 2025
    • Midnight Saturday 15 February – 6am Monday 17 February 2025
    • Midnight Saturday 22 February – 6am Monday 24 February 2025
    • 10pm Friday 28 February – 6am Monday 3 March 2025
    • 10pm Friday 7 March – 6am Monday 10 March 2025
    • 10pm Friday 14 March – 6am Monday 17 March 2025

    Public Information Event

    We will be holding a public information drop-in session at Ravensworth Golf Club on Wednesday, 4 December, from 3pm to 8pm. You can meet with members of the project team to ask any questions and learn more about the upcoming demolition work.

    We will continue to keep you informed about the demolition and any other work leading up to the Christmas period.

  • 30 September 2024

    Closures in October

    Tuesday 1 October - Friday 4 October

    A1 lane 2 closed northbound between junction 63 and junction 65
    A1 fully closed northbound between junction 65 to junction 68
    A1 lane 3 and 2 closed southbound between junction 68 and junction 67
    A1 lane 2 closed southbound between junction 67 and junction 65
    Junction 67 south side of roundabout closed
    Junction 66 southbound entry slip road closed
    Junction 65 southbound exit slip road closed

    Sunday 6 October

    A1 lane 3 and 2 closed southbound between junction 71 and junction 69
    A1 fully closed southbound between junction 69 to junction 65
    A1 lane 2 closed northbound between junction 63 and junction 67

    Monday 7 October - Friday 11 October

    A1 lane 3 and 2 closed southbound between junction 71 and junction 69
    A1 fully closed southbound between junction 69 to junction 65
    A1 lane 2 closed northbound between junction 63 and junction 67
    Junction 67 north side of roundabout closed
    Junction 66 northbound entry slip road closed

    Monday 14 October - Friday 18 October

    A1 lane 2 closed northbound between junction 63 and junction 65
    A1 fully closed northbound between junction 65 to junction 68
    A1 lane 3 and 2 closed southbound between junction 68 and junction 67
    A1 lane 2 closed southbound between junction 67 and junction 65
    Junction 67 south side of roundabout closed

    Sunday 20 October

    A1 lane 3 and 2 closed southbound between junction 71 and junction 69
    A1 fully closed southbound between junction 69 to junction 65
    A1 lane 2 closed northbound between junction 63 and junction 67

    Monday 21 October - Friday 25 October

    A1 lane 3 and 2 closed southbound between junction 71 and junction 69
    A1 fully closed southbound between junction 69 to junction 65
    A1 Lane 2 closed northbound between junction 63 and junction 67
    Junction 66 north side of roundabout closed
    Junction 66 northbound exit slip road closed

    Sunday 27 October

    A1 lane 2 closed northbound between junction 63 and junction 65
    A1 fully closed northbound between junction 65 to junction 68
    A1 lane 3 and 2 closed southbound between junction 68 and junction 67
    A1 lane 2 closed southbound between junction 67 and junction 65

    Monday 28 October - Thursday 31 October

    A1 lane 2 closed northbound between junction 63 and junction 65
    A1 fully closed northbound between junction 65 to junction 68
    A1 lane 3 and 2 closed southbound between junction 68 and junction 67
    A1 lane 2 closed southbound between junction 67 and junction 65
    Junction 66 south side of roundabout closed
    Junction 67 outer ring closure

  • 11 September 2024

    Closures in September

    We'll be working overnight (8pm - 6am) at the following locations

    Wednesday 18 September to Friday 20 September

    A1 lane 3 and 2 closed southbound between junction 71 and junction 69
    A1 fully closed southbound between junction 69 to junction 65
    A1 lane 2 closed northbound between junction 63 and junction 67
    A1 junction 67 north side of roundabout closed
    A1 northbound J67 fully closed, leave at junction 67 exit slip and rejoin at junction 67
    entry slip

    Saturday 21 September

    A1 Lane 2 closed northbound between junction 63 and junction 65
    A1 Fully closed northbound between junction 65 to junction 68

    Sunday 22 September

    A1 lane 2 closed northbound between junction 63 and junction 65
    A1 fully closed northbound between junction 65 to junction 68
    A1 lane 3 and 2 closed southbound between junction 68 and junction 67
    A1 lane 2 closed southbound between junction 67 and junction 65

    Monday 23 September to Friday 27 September

    A1 lane 2 closed northbound between junction 63 and junction 65
    A1 fully closed northbound between junction 65 to junction 68
    A1 lane 3 and 2 closed southbound between junction 68 and junction 67
    A1 lane 2 closed southbound between junction 67 and junction 65
    Junction 65 southbound exit slip road closed

    Sunday 29 September

    A1 lane 2 closed northbound between junction 63 and junction 65
    A1 fully closed northbound between junction 65 to junction 68
    A1 lane 3 and 2 closed southbound between junction 68 and junction 67
    A1 lane 2 closed southbound between junction 67 and junction 65

    Monday 30 September

    A1l ane 2 closed northbound between junction 63 and junction 65
    A1 fully closed northbound between junction 65 to junction 68
    A1 lane 3 and 2 closed southbound between junction 68 and junction 67
    A1 lane 2 closed southbound between junction 67 and junction 65
    A1 junction 67 south side of roundabout closed
    A1 junction 66 southbound entry slip road closed
    A1 junction 65 southbound exit slip road closed

    Please remember that closures can change at short notice. You can check the latest information on our daily closures page or find live travel information on our Traffic England site. Our travel alerts give details of live incidents on our network.

  • 05 August 2024

    A1 latest closure information - August 2024

    Please plan your journey ahead and expect delays during these periods.

    Closures can also change at short notice.  Make sure you check the latest information on our daily closures page. You can also get information on our regional X (formerly Twitter) page.

    Diversion routes will be clearly signposted. 

    Tuesday, 20 August

    • Northbound
    • Lane 2 closed between Junction 63 and Junction 65
    • Fully closed between Junction 65 and Junction 68
    • Southbound
    • Lane 3 and 2 closed between Junction 68 and Junction 67
    • Lane 2 closed between Junction 67 and Junction 65
    • Junction 67
    • South side of the roundabout closed

    Wednesday, 21 August

    • Northbound
      • Lane 2 closed between Junction 63 and Junction 65
      • Fully closed between Junction 65 and Junction 68
    • Southbound
      • Lane 3 and 2 closed between Junction 68 and Junction 67
      • Lane 2 closed between Junction 67 and Junction 65
    • Junction 67
      • South side of the roundabout closed

    Thursday, 22 August

    • Northbound
      • Lane 2 closed between Junction 63 and Junction 65
      • Fully closed between Junction 65 and Junction 68
    • Southbound
      • Lane 3 and 2 closed between Junction 68 and Junction 67
      • Lane 2 closed between Junction 67 and Junction 65
    • Junction 67
      • South side of the roundabout closed

    Tuesday, 27 August

    • Northbound
      • Lane 2 closed between Junction 63 and Junction 65
      • Fully closed between Junction 65 and Junction 68
    • Southbound
      • Lane 3 and 2 closed between Junction 68 and Junction 67
      • Lane 2 closed between Junction 67 and Junction 65
    • Junction 67
      • South side of the roundabout closed

    Wednesday, 28 August

    • Northbound
      • Lane 2 closed between Junction 63 and Junction 65
      • Fully closed between Junction 65 and Junction 68
    • Southbound
      • Lane 3 and 2 closed between Junction 68 and Junction 67
      • Lane 2 closed between Junction 67 and Junction 65
    • Junction 67
      • South side of the roundabout closed

    Thursday, 29 August

    • Northbound
      • Lane 2 closed between Junction 63 and Junction 65
      • Fully closed between Junction 65 and Junction 68
    • Southbound
      • Lane 3 and 2 closed between Junction 68 and Junction 67
      • Lane 2 closed between Junction 67 and Junction 65
    • Junction 67
      • South side of the roundabout closed

    Friday, 30 August

    • Northbound
      • Lane 2 closed between Junction 63 and Junction 65
      • Fully closed between Junction 65 and Junction 68
    • Southbound
      • Lane 3 and 2 closed between Junction 68 and Junction 67
      • Lane 2 closed between Junction 67 and Junction 65
    • Junction 67
      • South side of the roundabout closed

    Saturday, 31 August

    • Northbound
      • Lane 2 closed between Junction 63 and Junction 65
      • Fully closed between Junction 65 and Junction 68
    • Southbound
      • Lane 3 and 2 closed between Junction 68 and Junction 67
      • Lane 2 closed between Junction 67 and Junction 65
    • Junction 67
      • South side of the roundabout closed

     

  • 09 June 2024

    Junction 65 southbound off-slip now open

    After successfully filling the void at junction 65 southbound off-slip, we've reopened the slip road. Vehicles can now access the A1231

    This should improve some of the traffic congestion in the surrounding areas.

    We've worked to ensure we completed repairs as quickly and safely as possible.

    The closure was necessary for safety reasons. We appreciate your patience and understanding during this period.

    Thank you for your continued support and cooperation.

  • 26 January 2024

    Widening exit slip and earthworks

    We are widening the exit slip road and need to carry out significant earthwork to install new drainage and the new lane. 

    This phase is expected to last around 8 weeks from late January and we will continue to work in the area once this phase of work is completed.

    This work will require lane closures on the southbound exit slip road:

    Please remember that closure details can change at short notice.  For the most up-to-date information, please visit our daily closures page.

    Delays are expected at peak times as people get used to the temporary layout and we ask people to plan ahead. 

    See the diversion routes we will be using during this scheme.

  • 19 May 2021

    We're starting work

    We’re starting work to improve the A1 between Birtley and Coal House. This part of the A1 runs past the iconic Angel of the North and carries the A1 over the East Coast Main Line.

    The A1 between J65 and J67 suffers from heavy traffic build up at peak times, causing frustration for drivers and unreliable journey times.

    We are widening the carriageway adding an additional lane in both directions. The northbound carriageway will increase to three lanes and the southbound to four.

    This scheme is really important for the north east – benefitting the region’s economy and supports Transport for the North’s plans

    We’re working closely with Gateshead Council and local communities to make sure our scheme does not alter the local views and supports biodiversity and environmental interests. 

  • 25 January 2021

    Project given permission

    On 19 January the Secretary of State for Transport gave permission for this scheme to be constructed. This permission is called a Development Consent Order and you can find out more about it on the Planning Inspectorate's website. We are currently looking at when we will start work and this will be no later than summer 2021.

See more updates

Project information

Overview

We will be improving approximately four miles of the A1 between junctions 65 (Birtley) and 67 (Coal House). The existing road will be widened between the junctions to help manage traffic joining and leaving the A1:

  • Northbound we’ll increase the number of lanes from two to three.
  • Southbound we’ll increase the number of lanes from three to four.

Junction 65, 66 and 67 will be modified to accommodate the additional lanes.

We also plan to replace Allerdene railway bridge, which carries the A1 over the east coast mainline railway. The current bridge was built nearly 40 years ago and requires regular maintenance which can cause disruption to traffic. We’ll build the new bridge just south of the existing bridge.

We’re designing this improvement scheme to benefit road users, local communities, and to support the region’s economy.

Once completed it will:

  • reduce congestion by increasing capacity for road users
  • improve the reliability of peoples’ journeys and reduce delays by increasing capacity of the road network
  • make journeys safer by improving the standard and capacity of the road
  • help support economic growth by improving the road to the Newcastle and Tyneside area (Team Valley Employment Zone)
  • support the government’s initiative for growth in the north

Visit our A1 Birtley to Coal House feedback tool to have your say. The tool includes an interactive map. You can click on a location to make a specific comment, or give us your general feedback.

ECHO is a one-way feedback tool, so if you’d like a response to your feedback you can email the project team at: A1BirtleytoCoalhouse@nationalhighways.co.uk

Map of Birtley to Coal House scheme

Documents

Traffic information

Information about scheduled roadworks and events on our motorways and major roads.

Contact us

0300 123 5000

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