A long-awaited cut to speed limits on one of Newcastle’s most notorious danger roads is finally due to be imposed in the coming weeks.
Plans to reduce the maximum speeds along the entire length of the Great North Road, which was last year named as the city’s worst speeding fine hotspot, were unveiled in February.
Now, after more than six months of waiting for the safety measures to come into force, council bosses say they are almost ready to take action.
The changes will see the limit between Claremont Road in the city centre to the Blue House Roundabout cut to 40mph, followed by a 30mph section from Blue House to the junction with The Grove — all of which is currently 50mph.
There will then be a 20mph stretch on the retail section of Gosforth High Street between The Grove and Salters Road, back to 30mph from Salters Road past the Broadway roundabout and up to Brunton Lane, and then 40mph from Brunton Lane to the A1.
It is understood that the new speed limits could be formally signed off this month, after which it could take around six weeks for new road signs to be installed.
A Newcastle City Council spokesperson said: “The Great North Road is one of the key routes into the city but suffers from a poor road safety record. Reducing the speed limits would make it safer.
“As part of the finalised legal process for implementing the changes, a report is due recommending speed reductions and if approved, new speed limits would be implemented imminently. We will advise all road users of the changes to this busy stretch of road.”
A speed camera positioned at the very start of Gosforth High Street, where motorists are currently asked to reduce their speed from 50mph to 30mph, is well known as among the most prolific in the North East.
ChronicleLive revealed last year that 3,798 drivers were slapped with tickets there in 2017, albeit that was an improvement from the 4,204 who made the same mistake in 2016.
The high street is also notorious for its air pollution, with average nitrogen dioxide levels almost 50% higher than the legal limit according to the figures from 2017, but is not included in final plans for a new Clean Air Zone in the city.
Colin Ferguson, Liberal Democrat councillor for Gosforth, said: “This is something that we welcome from the perspective of road safety and air quality. Slower traffic is safer for pedestrians, cyclists, and other road users.
"It also produces lower emissions, which will be better for people using the high street.
“When this was announced we made no objections, the only disappointment is that it has taken this long to happen."
Top Labour figures at the city council have said that plans to turn Gosforth High Street into a ‘red route’ no-stopping zone could also be revived in a bid to reduce air pollution.
