Details of route openings / improvements / diversions / signing etc. will be posted here:-
Please let me if you come across anything affecting your routes -
damaged signs, overgrown vegetation, litter/rubbish, burnt out cars etc.
There is a short diversion due to a new road junction being constructed at Dock Road, linking to a new road leading down to the Shields Ferry landing which NCN 72/10 will follow once completed.
Works affecting NCN routes
2nd Tyne Tunnel construction affecting NCN 14 in Jarrow and NCN 72 in Howdon
Route News
Tynemouth / Whitley Bay
Plans are progressing well on this project to reinstate this route along the foreshore footways, promenades and across the Links and the majority of the route should be in place and signed by Spring with the exception of Cullercoats - this work will probably be carried out in the year 2011 ??
Blyth - Bedlington
Plans are progressing well on developing a new route via Blyth Quauside and along the south bank of River Blyth. Then under the rail viaduct to Furnace Bridge and back along the noth bank on a new wide tarmac track to join with existing route at Bedlington Station.
Shiremoor - Camperdown
The route has been resurfaced from Silverlink park to Blue Bell PH.
The route is projected to be altered to avoid the A19 underpass and narrow rabbit hole section using the waggonways network via Killingworth.
South Tyneside - Hebburn
The route now follows the riverside road through Hebburn Riverside park and then a new path behind the industrial estate along the riverbank and is now fully signed as NCN 14 Keelmans Way.
South Tyneside - Jarrow
The route is now fully signed as NCN 14 Keelmans Way via rear of Bedes World - work is underway to improve the link to the Tyne Pedestrian & Cycle Tunnel.
Tyne Pedestrian & Cycle Tunnel
Currently ONLY the UP escalator is working on the Jarrow side and a shutttle bus service is in operation which can carry 4 bikes plus 6 passengers on a 30 min interval during the day. Both lifts should be back in operation by end of 2010. £6m has been allocated to replace the escalators with inclined lifts, for more information log onto the Ped & Cycle Tunnel website Here
South Tyneside - Tyne Dock to Ferry Landing
The route now fully signed as NCN 14 Keelmans Way and is now signed 2-way along the Tyne Dock perimeter wall to Templetown where it follows a new on road route via South Eldon Street to Laygate.
Here it rejoins the existing route to the Shields Ferry Landing where it terminates and links to NCN 1 & NCN 72.
Once work completed the old route will be closed and from Laygate will follow a traffic free path connecting with NCN 1 at Crossgate and then onto the Ferry Landing via NCN 1.
Low Ouseburn
The area at the end of the promenade at mouth of the Ouseburn has been tidied up and a new surface laid - signing has yet to be altered.
Walker Riverside Park
The over lapping barriers are to be removed along the straight section between st. Peters and Pottery bank and replaced by two gates for maintenance vehicles with a wide bypass to one side - fully surfaced with long entry transition. A narrower gate will be installed at Pottery Bank with a 1.5m bypass.
Church Street: gate posts to remove, redundant sign post to remove and wide gaps between existing bollards supplemented with extra removable bollards to allow maintence vehicle access. Cracks and tree root problem to be repaired. A test hole has been dug on the track to east of Potteey Bank to find out why the path has large longtitudinal cracks - these will then be repaired.
Willington Quay
The track down to Willington Gut bridge has had lighting installed and a non skid green surface applied.
Long term the plan is to abandon the route through Willington Quay and instead go through the new Hadrian Village estate once the road is adopted by the council.
Howdon Lane to A19 Bridge
The track has been widened and re-surfaced and street lighting installed during 2010.
A19 Bridge to East Howdon Bypass
The old route via Brewers Lane is now buried and a new 3m wide track constructed around the huge earth mound (surplus spoil from the 2nd Tyne Tunnel site). This overlooks the new toll plaza area and entrance to the new road tunnel. It crosses a new Bus Only road and then onto to cross East Howdon Bypass where a new Toucan Crossing will be soon installed - the new track will have full lighting.
Link route from Tyne Cycle Tunnel to East Howdon Village
This is due to be improved and resurfaced as part of 2nd Tyne Tunnel restoration.
Dock Road to Shields Ferry Landing
Once the new road is completed across the Smiths Dock development site NCN 72 will have a shared use path alongside which will bypass the present route through industrial estate and be on a much easier gradient than Borough Bank.
