Closed flyover to be demolished 'by end of year'
BBCA dangerous flyover will be demolished by the end of the year, a council has said.
The A167 Gateshead flyover was shut in December after an inspection found it was unsafe for traffic.
Engineers found several issues including water retention, flooding and damaged concrete.
On Tuesday, Gateshead Council's cabinet approved plans for demolition of the flyover with the council setting aside £18m from its capital budget to remove it.
Council leader Martin Gannon said the decision was essential.
"It's crucially important to get the flyover down and to get the road system repaired and operating as quickly as possible," he said.
"I think I can safely predict it will be gone by the end of this year."
In the flyover's place, Gateshead Council intends to build a new road called The Boulevard.
It wants to use it as a jumping off point to redevelop the town centre from the Tyne Bridge to Durham Road.
When the flyover was initially closed just before Christmas, Metro trains were suspended in a tunnel beneath the structure while temporary props were installed.