After almost two years and a series of very unfortunate setbacks - Killingworth Road is on track to reopen next month.
The key Newcastle commuter route has been shut since July 2017 for a £13.5m project to widen the road and install a new Metro bridge, and should have reopened by March last year.
But a series of severe complications with gasworks on the site have seen its reopening pushed back again and again.
Multiple reasons for the delays have included the discovery of asbestos, a “labyrinth of utility pipes and old infrastructure” beneath the city, bad weather and land slippage issues.
£16m plans to reopen Tyne Pedestrian Tunnel has been delayed AGAIN
After missing the March 2018 finish date, council bosses then targeted June 2018 and then “early 2019” for completion — before pushing the reopening date back to May.
Here we look at some of the things that have happened since the last time the road was open.
Two royal weddings and (nearly) three royal babies
There's been plenty to celebrate if you're a Royal Family fan, with a particularly busy spring and summer in 2018.
Last April the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge welcomed their third child Prince Louis, who was presented to the world by his proud parents, outside St Mary's Hospital in Paddington.
Just less than a month later, the world celebrated as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle tied the knot, becoming the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
In June, Zara and husband Mike Tindall, a former England rugby player, welcomed their second child - a daughter called Lena.
October saw Princess Eugenie marry Jack Brooksbank at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle.
And it was at this wedding that Harry and Meghan reportedly announced to family and friends that they were expecting their first child.
The couple are believed to be just weeks away from welcoming the baby, who will be seventh in line to the throne.
Tyne Tunnel toll barrier removal set for go-ahead as plans are given the green light
First North of Tyne Mayor elected
By the time Killingworth Road reopens, the 'North of Tyne' will have its first ever regional mayor after voters go to the polls on May 2.
The path to the mayoral election has been far from smooth, with the North East’s first devolution deal – which included the three North of Tyne authorities, as well as Gateshead, Sunderland, South Tyneside and County Durham – falling apart in 2016.
But in November 2018 the North of Tyne Combined Authority (NTCA), covering the area of Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland councils, was created.
The mayor will make decisions about what the NTCA does jointly with the leaders of the three participating councils.
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As well as those formal duties, the mayor will act as a figurehead for the region and work to promote the area and bring in investment and funding.
The NTCA will have a range of powers over housebuilding, education and economic growth.
It is guaranteed to receive £600m for the Government to be invested in the area and it's forecast it could bring in £2.1bn in private sector investment.
The candidates confirmed to contest the mayoral election are: Jamie Driscoll (Labour), Charlie Hoult (Conservative), John Appleby (Liberal Democrat), UKIP North of Tyne mayor candidate once suggested euthanasia to reduce number of children in care (UKIP) and John McCabe (Independent).
UKIP North of Tyne mayor candidate once suggested euthanasia to reduce number of children in care
Silverlink roadworks ended
These works caused their fair share of misery for motorists - but finally came to an end on April 1 when the new Silverlink triple-decker roundabout officially opened to traffic.
Drivers can now continue along the A19 North or South without being held up at the Silverlink Roundabout , as a three-year project to create a new carriageway under the existing junction was completed.
Highways England says the £75m scheme was finished on time, and will give 80,000 drivers a day "safer and smoother journeys" through North Tyneside.
The project started at the A19 and A1058 Coast Road junction, in North Tyneside , in summer 2016.
Sunderland got relegated (again), had a Netflix documentary made about them and then lost a cup final at Wembley
In July 2017, Sunderland fans were still reeling from their first relegation from the Premier League in 10 years.
But things got even worse with their disastrous Championship campaign of 2017-18, which saw them slip down once more, this time to League One.
The whole heartbreaking ordeal was captured in the popular Netflix documentary series Sunderland 'Till I Die, which saw the Black Cats ' global profile increase and was praised for capturing fans' special relationship with their club.
Several managers and a new owner later, things were looking up for the Wearsiders with a chance to win some silverware at Wembley in the Checkatrade Trophy final on March 31.
But they lost to Portsmouth in a penalty shootout after the game had finished 2-2 after extra-time.
However, with promotion to the Championship still on the table , fans are hoping a second series of Sunderland 'Till I Die will end up with some positive memories to look back on.
Sunderland's 2018: A year which started with dashed hopes ends with more realistic optimism
Newcastle United broke their transfer record - finally
Paraguayan player Miguel Almiron came to Tyneside earlier this year in a deal believed to be around £20m.
This broke the club's transfer record set by Michael Owen's arrival in 2005 for £16million from Real Madrid.
Following Almiron's performance during the 2-0 victory over Huddersfield Town in February, Gary Lineker proclaimed that Newcastle United fans “have a new favourite to cheer”.
The weather went from one extreme to the other
The Beast from the East launched its fury on the North East at the start of 2018, dumping snow and causing temperatures to plumment.
Heavy blizzards brought blankets of snow and hundreds of schools were forced to close and commuters faced travel mayhem due to the treacherous condtions.
Temperatures dropped as low as -15C - but months later, the glorious summer of 2018 was in full swing.
It has gone down in history for being the joint-hottest on record for the UK as a whole - and the hottest ever in England.
Newcastle's first skyscraper half built
Work began last year on the building that will change Newcastle's skyline - Hadrian's Tower.
The 27-storey construction will be Newcastle's tallest building when it opens next year.
It is currently under construction at Rutherford Street and will be home to 162 apartments, although 50% of these have already been sold to overseas investors.
The tower’s developers, High Street Group, is now working on plans to have a champagne bar on top the building that will be open all year round.
First Greggs drive-thru in North East is confirmed and almost open
There was good news for fans of baked goods as Greggs secured planning permission for the North East's first Greggs drive-thru restaurant.
The scheme to open the fast food branch at Tyneside Autoparc, off the A1056 Sandy Lane, North Gosforth , was given the go-ahead by planners last year.
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Construction work is well under way and the new drive-thru is expected to open in the coming months, though an exact date has not been set.
Signs have been put up in the area saying " Greggs drive-thru coming soon".
The store will create 15 jobs and the company has started a recruitment process to hire staff.
Goodbye to Grainger Games and Gotham
Newcastle city centre suffered the loss of institutions on both the nightlife and shopping front.
Grainger Games started life in a Grainger Market stall but grew to become a nationwide gaming favourite through a network of 67 stores.
In March, however, the firm fell into financial difficulties and 21 stores were emailed and told not to open.
The following week the remaining 46 stores were also closed, including the Newcastle store which announced the firm’s demise with a sign saying: “Sorry to say we are now closed. Thanks for 21 years of custom. Game OVER.”
Meanwhile 'dirty trebles bar' Gotham Town is bidding farewell to cheap drinks, claggy carpet and late night DJs to become a "top quality beer bar".
Owner Craft Projects director Barry Ladhar said: “The Gunner is going to be an old style craft beer pub, similar in style to other exciting bars in our portfolio including Lady Grey’s."
Brexit...didn't happen
After almost two years since the Brexit negotiations began in June 2017, Brexit has failed to happen in a spectacular fashion.
The UK had been due to leave the European Union on March 29, but Theresa May's deal was voted down for a third time by Parliament.
At the time of writing the Prime Minister had requested for a second time that the EU extend the Article 50 period until 30 June 2019.
Take a look at new coffee bar where Tyne Tunnel drivers can grab hot drink on way to work
See what it's like to drive on new Silverlink A19 underpass after completion of roadwork
