Heugh Street Bridge to remain closed as South Tyneside Council seeks government funding
South Tyneside Council has confirmed that the Heugh Street Bridge will remain closed.
The Heugh Street Bridge is set to remain closed to motorists as South Tyneside Council applies for government funding look into repairing the structure.
The bridge, on River Drive, in South Shields was closed with “immediate effect” to all moving traffic on November 13.
South Tyneside Council made the decision to close the bridge after an engineering review indicated that a closer examination would be necessary.
In an update on Wednesday, May 6, the local authority has stated that structural investigations have been complete and that the overall condition of the bridge is “poor”.
Assessing the options for the Heugh Street Bridge
Council officers are assessing the long-term options for the bridge and an application to the The Department of Transport’s Structures Fund has been made.
A South Tyneside Council spokesperson said: “Detailed structural investigations and testing have now been completed on Heugh Street Bridge.
“Investigations have found that the overall condition of the bridge is poor, with significant deterioration identified in key structural elements.
“This confirms that the decision to close the bridge to vehicles was justified and that it must remain closed to vehicular traffic in the interest of public safety.
“The bridge remains safe for pedestrian use and will continue to be subject to enhanced monitoring and inspections.
“Council officers are progressing further technical work, including a feasibility study, to assess long‑term options for the bridge.
“As part of this process, the Council has made an initial, high‑level submission to the Department for Transport’s Structures Fund to support further technical assessment and planning.
“This does not relate to a confirmed scheme or cost but ensures potential funding routes can be explored alongside detailed feasibility work.
“Further updates will be provided as this work progresses.”
The Structures Fund
The Department of Transport’s Structures Fund looks to provide funding to support with the capital costs of repairing or replacing local highway structures, such as the Heugh Street Bridge.
The fund comprises of £7.3billion for local highway maintenance and is provided by the Department of Transport for 2026-27 to 2029-30.
It can only be used for structured where the repair or replacement costs are unaffordable from a local authority’s existing budget.
Any structures that benefit from funding must be repaired or replaced and opened to traffic by March 31, 2030.