Residents have reacted with consternation to news that a planned reopening of a pedestrian footbridge between Norham Place and Tankerville Terrace, due to happen on 15th October, has now been delayed.

The closure of the footbridge that crosses the Metro line through Jesmond came into effect on 25th September, following a legal notice from Newcastle City Council, which declared the structure unsafe for public use and in need of urgent repair.

Heather Wales, consultant technician at Newcastle City Council, said they are beginning to “design and implement a permanent solution”.

The bridge was due to reopen on 15th October, but has since been delayed, the council has revealed to JesmondLocal.

A spokesperson for the council’s highway structures unit said: “The temporary staircase is due to be erected on Monday 20th October and will then be opened to the public.”

“I can’t believe it’s been pushed back,” said Jesmond resident Daniel Badowski, 21, “I have to walk down Osborne Road instead, which is so inconvenient it makes my mornings more stressful.”

According to the council, a report of damage to the bridge steps by a local resident prompted the initial closure. In response, they sent an engineer to inspect the site, who determined that the steps were too dangerous for pedestrian use, leading to the immediate closure.

While a routine inspection did not identify the issue, the council said that they inspect all highway structures on a biennial basis in line with national guidance for the inspection of highway structures.

In response to accessibility concerns, the council installed a signed pedestrian diversion offering an alternative route using the bridge on Forsyth Road instead to cross over the Metro line.

Wales said the council immediately notified West Jesmond Primary School, situated opposite the bridge, in person on the day of the closure. Newcastle City Council also posted a public notice online via One.Network to inform the wider community, which states “delays likely.”

The bridge is near West Jesmond Metro Station, and is heavily used by students, families and commuters as it provides a popular walking route between residential streets, Tankerville Terrace – home to four schools.

Some residents have expressed frustration at the inconvenience caused by the diversion making their daily routines more difficult.

“I use that bridge as a shortcut to get to university, so it’s a bit annoying having to go the long way around because it made me late the other day”, said Jesmond resident Badowski, explaining that the closure has added five extra minutes to his walk. “I’m not surprised, though; it was always really creaky.”

The council has not yet confirmed the exact nature of the structural fault or the time frame for the long-term solutions to take place.

The legal notice states the closure may remain in place for up to 21 days under emergency powers granted by the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984; however, they received an extension.

The council said they “apologise for any inconvenience the bridge closure has caused whilst the required work is undertaken.”

For more information, contact the council’s Traffic Management section at trafficregulationorders@newcastle.gov.uk or by calling 0191 2787878.