Queen Victoria Road and Claremont Road
Queen Victoria Road and Claremont Road
We are making permanent changes to the road layout on Queen Victoria Road.
We will be building a new two-way cycle track along the length of the road and putting in new and safer junctions and crossing points. There will also be a new bus stop outside the hospital.
We’re investing £2.95m in the improvements, including £1.3m from the government’s Active Travel Fund, to make this busy city centre street safer for everyone.
We’ve developed the plans in consultation with the Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle University, local residents, businesses and road users.
We’ve also taken on board feedback from people about the temporary traffic arrangements on Queen Victoria Road, which were put in place during the first Covid lockdown to support social distancing and active travel.
Work on nearby Claremont Road has already been completed as part of wider safety improvements in this area of the city. These works have included new pedestrian crossing facilities, widened footpaths and changes at the junction outside the car park to improve traffic flows and make it safer for people on foot and bikes.
When will work take place on Queen Victoria Road?
Most of the work in this first phase of the improvements on Queen Victoria Road has now been completed.
Work has been underway since January 2024, when preparation began for the new traffic signals to be installed.
The main construction work started in March. This involved building the new cycle track and crossing points, as well as installing the new traffic signals and bus stop.
Following the completion of this part of the works, surfacing works took place during July and August.
We are now making the finishing touches, including adding new road markings.
As this phase of work is due to be completed ahead of schedule, we are now looking at how best to bring forward the second phase, which will involve further improvements at the junction with Claremont Road.
The current temporary one-way restriction on Queen Victoria Road will remain in place for the time being.
How will people be affected?
Queen Victoria Road is temporarily one-way, northbound only, for vehicles from St Thomas Street to Claremont Road.
Pavements on both sides of the road are temporarily being used as shared space for people walking, wheeling and cycling while the works are carried out.
Access to the Royal Victoria Infirmary
Access to the hospital site will continue to be maintained but there may be temporary changes to the car park entry and exit points to allow work in these locations to be carried out safely.
We will continue to work with the RVI to minimise any disruption and keep people informed.
While the temporary one-way restriction is in place, vehicles will only be able to travel northbound along Queen Victoria Road, turning left into the hospital car parks.
If you are approaching from the Claremont Road end of the road and / or Central Motorway, you will need to follow the signed diversion routes.
Access to the Accident and Emergency Department, via Richardson Road, can also be reached via the signed diversion route if approaching from Claremont Road and Central Motorway.
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