Traffic signal upgrade work at city centre junction

Newcastle City Council is carrying out the work at the junction of Collingwood and Mosley Street, where it meets Groat Market and St Nicholas Street.

The junction is part of a key bus route leading to the High Level Bridge and the signal upgrade work will enable more efficient traffic management at this location.

Changes to pedestrian crossing facilities will also be carried out, with the removal of the small pedestrian island in the centre of the junction.

Cllr Jane Byrne, cabinet member for a connected, clean city at Newcastle City Council said: “At peak times we see high volumes of traffic passing through this junction and this can cause delays and hold ups for public transport.

“With works due to take place on the Tyne Bridge from early 2024 and unavoidable disruption when lane closures are in place, we are taking action now to reduce the impact of delays for buses using this alternative southbound route.

“The upgraded traffic signals that we are installing will be connected to the city’s central traffic management system, allowing for better coordination between this and other key junctions in the city centre in order to help keep traffic flowing.

“We will also be taking out the central pedestrian island and replacing it with straight crossing points across all four arms of the junction to make it easier and safer for people to cross the road.”

Initial works on footpaths in the area began last week and, from 2 October 2023, this will move on to include work on the carriageway.

People are advised that this may lead to some disruption and some lane closures, temporary traffic signals and temporary road closures may need to be put in place to allow the work to be carried out safely.

Pedestrian access will remain open and, when necessary, diversions for motorists will be in place. Cyclists are asked to follow diversionary routes or alternatively can dismount to use footpaths.

New surfacing and road markings will be carried out at the end of the works programme, which is expected to take up to 18 weeks.

Funding for the traffic signal upgrades has been provided through the Government’s Transforming Cities Fund.