A1 drivers warned of long delays

Work starts on the Western bypass at Team Valley on Saturday causing serious delays

Motorists are being warned to prepare for long delays on the A1 in Gateshead during work to strengthen a bridge.

From Saturday, the road's southbound carriageway will be closed for three weeks between the Kingsway and Eighton Lodge junctions.

A Highways Agency spokesman said the £1.5m scheme is expected to cause "severe delays".

Southbound traffic will be diverted onto a single lane of the opposite carriageway during the works.

The repairs are essential to reinforce the road, which crosses the East Coast Mainline, said the spokesman.

A 40mph speed limit in the area will be enforced by average speed cameras.

The main programme of repairs will be followed by overnight works which will see both carriageways reduced to one lane between 2000 BST and 0600 BST for six weeks.