Traffic: Diversions in place during bridge demolition

Fort Bridge will be demolished this weekend from 8pm on Saturday.

Motorists are being advised that the A1 in North Yorkshire will be closed for 34 hours this weekend to demolish Fort Bridge as part of the A1 Leeming to Barton major road scheme.

The A1 will be closed from 8pm on Saturday, November 14, until 6am on Monday, November 16, in both directions between junction 51 (Leeming Bar) and Scotch Corner.

The £380 million Highways England project, which began last year, will replace the existing dual carriageway with a new three lane motorway.

The bridge needs to be demolished to allow space for an extra lane to be added to the road network before being rebuilt at a later date.

Drivers will be able to use a new Catterick central junction which will open prior to the demolition – marking a major phase in the construction of the scheme.

Highways England project manager Tom Howard said: “This is a significant milestone for the scheme and a complex piece of engineering, which is why it is essential we close sections of the A1.

“There will inevitably be delays at peak times and people should plan their journeys, using the many alternative routes that will be signposted off the A1 closure. We would like to thank drivers for their patience.”

Clearly signed diversions will be in place and drivers are advised to allow an extra 30 minutes to their journey time.

During the closure the light festival Lumiere will be held in Durham. Festival goers travelling to the event by car from the south are advised to check the latest travel information.