Date and venue set for Public Inquiry into New Tyne Crossing

 

The Public Inquiry into the proposed �139 million New Tyne Crossing will begin at 10am on 4 March 2003 at Jarrow Community Association in Cambrian Street, Jarrow, it was announced today (Fri 13 December).

 It is expected that the Inquiry will last between four and six weeks.

 It will be chaired by Stuart Nixon, the independent inspector appointed by the Deputy Prime Minister, to hear the evidence from supporters and objectors.

A pre-Inquiry meeting to discuss practical arrangements for the Public Inquiry will be held at Jarrow Community Association on 6 January 2003. Anyone intending to present evidence at the full Inquiry may attend.

The application to build the New Tyne Crossing between Jarrow and East Howdon has been made by the Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Authority (PTA) which currently owns and operates the existing Tyne Tunnels.

PTA deputy vice chair Coun Tom Hanson said: �I am confident that the PTA will win its case for a new vehicle tunnel under the Tyne.� The present tunnel is a bottleneck, the only stretch of single carriageway on the A19 linking the North East�s major conurbations of Tyneside, Wearside and Teesside.

 �Congestion at the existing vehicle tunnel is bad and is only going to get worse. The New Tyne Crossing will be a major benefit to communities on both banks of the river as well as to people and businesses further afield. It is a major part of the transport and regeneration policies for the region.

�The level of support we have received from business, organisations, politicians and the public has been very encouraging.�

�Issued on behalf of Tyne and Wear PTA and its lead advisor Arup by Bradley O�Mahoney Public Relations. Contact Richard Simpson on 01207 272162 or 07929 594814. E-mail: [email protected].

Background information

 Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott announced on 20 September 2002 his decision that there is to be a Public Inquiry into the New Tyne Crossing.

 The application under the Transport and Works Act for permission to build the new tunnel was made in May 2002.

 The scheme

 �         The current single carriageway Tyne (vehicle) Tunnel was opened in 1967.

�         It was designed to carry 25000 vehicles per day but currently carries 34000, leading to serious congestion at peak times.

�         When it opened it carried 5000 vehicles per day.

�         The proposed New Tyne Crossing will be built using an �immersed tube� technique involving dredging of the river and the dropping of pre-fabricated tunnel units into the trench.

�         The proposed crossing will be just to the east of the existing vehicle tunnel and will also link Jarrow and East Howdon.

�         It will cost an estimated �139 million, making it one of the biggest civil engineering projects in Britain.

�         It will be built, financed, designed and operated by a concessionaire.