Overview
- A heavy burst on a water main at the grassed bank beside Askew Road has left large amounts of standing water at the Redheugh Bridge roundabout and partially submerged at least one vehicle.
- Northumbrian Water engineers are on site isolating the damaged main and carrying out repairs while Northumbria Police and Gateshead Council manage safety and traffic control.
- Several routes have been closed or diverted for safety, including Askew Road between Gateshead Centre and Redheugh Bridge, A184 traffic sent through the Adelaide Estate, the A189 southbound slip onto Askew Road closed, and Village Heights closed to pedestrians.
- Flooding has spread across the nearby road network and crews are conducting a clean-up operation with vehicles recovered from the water and continued risk to motorists if routes remain wet.
- Authorities warn drivers to plan alternative routes and expect heavier delays because the disruption coincides with the Great North Run, and they say further updates will follow as repairs progress.