£21million bid submitted to replace the Heugh Street Bridge in South Shields
A £21million funding bid has been submitted as South Tyneside Council seeks to replace the Heugh Street Bridge.
South Tyneside Council has submitted a bid to the Government as it seeks help to replace the Heugh Street Bridge.
The local authority has applied to the Department for Transport's Structures Fund for £21million in funding to replace the South Shields bridge, which has been closed to the public since November 2025.
The bridge, on River Drive, was shut with “immediate effect” to traffic at the end of last year - with further inspections in the months following showing that the overall condition of the bridge as “poor”.
If the Council’s funding bid is successful, it would enable the full replacement of the Heugh Street Bridge and allow for vehicular traffic to be reinstated.
The Heugh Street Bridged carried around 5,000 vehicles a day prior to the closure, with pedestrian access remaining in place and the bridge continues to be subject to enhanced monitoring and inspections.
‘A significant step towards securing the investment needed’
Councillor Paul Mackings, Leader of South Tyneside Council, has stated that the funding application is a “significant step” towards a long-term solution for the bridge.
He said: "We know how important Heugh Street Bridge is to residents, businesses and everyone who relies on this route.
"Submitting this bid is a significant step towards securing the investment needed to provide a long-term solution for the bridge and restore traffic access on River Drive.
"A full replacement would ensure the route can continue to serve the community for many years to come, improving connectivity and supporting future economic growth in the area."
The Structures Fund
The Department for Transport's Structures Fund is designed to support local authorities with the repair, strengthening or replacement of highway structures that councils would otherwise be unable to afford to maintain.
The fund focuses on structures that have deteriorated, at risk of failure or are vulnerable to extreme weather.
It aims to help improve the resilience of local transport networks and deliver safer, more reliable journeys.
South Tyneside Council has stated that the outcome of the £21million bid is expected to be announced in the autumn.
Any structures that benefit from funding must be repaired or replaced and opened to traffic by March 31, 2030.