Demand for answers over future of Tyne Pedestrian and Cycle Tunnels - 'wishy-washy' report condemned

The serially delayed reopening of the historic river crossing finally went ahead last year, millions of pounds over budget.

But despite walkers and bikers being welcomed once again, work to install lifts is still yet to be completed, with the ongoing coronavirus outbreak meaning there is still no end in sight for the troubled project.

“We all appreciate COVID has caused some problems,” said Durham County Councillor Eddie Bell.

“You talk about the lift being stalled because it’s coming from overseas, but we’re now in October and we’re still no further forward.

“The report we’ve received was wishy-washy and I would like some more meat on the bones, some more definite answers to the question of when it will happen.

“It’s really not very satisfactory.”

Cllr Bell was speaking at a meeting of the North East Joint Transport Committee’s Audit Committee, which was held by videolink and broadcast via YouTube.

The pedestrian tunnel between Jarrow and Howdon, which first opened in 1951 as part of the Festival of Britain and took four years to build, officially reopened in August 2019 after years of delays and spiralling costs.

Work on the refurbishment project started in 2013 with a slated cost of £6.9million.

But delays caused by problems including contractors going bust and the discovery of asbestos have seen this more than double – to at least £16.2million.

This eventually led bosses to push ahead with last year’s reopening ‘rather than keep the public waiting’, despite work on inclined lifts to enter and exit the tunnel awaiting completion.

The decision appeared to prove popular, with more than 30,000 people using the crossing in the first two months after it reopened.

Minutes of previous Audit Committee meetings revealed members of the panel requested a report on the cost and impact of delays to the scheme last year and are still waiting for one to be delivered.

Tobyn Hughes, managing director of Transport North East, said: “It’s thoroughly unsatisfactory and has been for some time.”

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