Nexus, which owns, manages and is modernising Metro, is embarking on a key phase in the multi-million pound project to rebuild North Shields Metro station in North Tyneside.
The steel structure for the new station building and new platform canopies will be put in place over the next three weekends.
The weekends of 15-16 October, 22-23 October and 29-30 October contractors will be lifting into place the heavy steelwork immediately over and around the railway line.
The work means the closure of the Metro line between Tynemouth and Meadow Well, with a frequent replacement bus operating. Local bus services calling outside the Co-op in the town centre will also be diverted.
The modernisation of North Shields Metro station is part of the £385m Metro all change programme. The project is scheduled to be completed early next Spring.
This latest phase of the work can only be done when trains are not running and in order to complete this task with the minimum of inconvenience it will take place 24-hours a day from just after midnight on Friday until the early hours of Monday morning.
The lifts will take place using a crane located at the junction of Nile Street and Rudyard Street, and these roads will be closed with local traffic diverted.
Director of Rail and Infrastructure for Nexus, Ken Mackay, said: “The next three weekends are extremely significant for the modernisation of North Shields Metro station.
“The old station building has been demolished and we are now going to see the structure for the new concourse taking shape. The completed station will be a vast improvement on what was there before and will have long term benefits for the town centre and the local community.”
Nexus has consulted closely with North Tyneside Council and local residents during the work at North Shields station Platform 2 at the station (towards Newcastle) will be closed for about two weeks from Saturday, 29 October, and Platform 1 (towards Whitley Bay) will be closed for a second time, for two weeks from Saturday, 12 November. The final planned weekend closure will be on 12-13 November to complete the heavy lifting phase of the project.
No station closures are planned during December for the busy Christmas period.
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