Highways England is to host a public drop-in session on plans to increase capacity on the A1 carriageway near Gateshead.

The proposals follow a recent £61 million scheme to increase the number of lanes from two to three between Coal House and the Metro Centre at junction 71.

A total of eight miles of extra lanes have been added to the A1, while two new parallel link roads have been created along a stretch of the carriageway between Lobley Hill and Gateshead Quays.

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Plans are now in place to add extra lanes to the existing dual carriageway between Birtley (junction 65) and Coal House (junction 67). Allerdene Railway Bridge, which carries the A1 over the East Coast railway line, will also be replaced as part of the project.

Highways England project manager Nicola Wilkes said: "These events are a chance for local people to meet the project team, find out more about the proposals and give us their feedback."

The events will be held over two days:

• From 1pm – 8pm at Chowdene Children’s Centre, Waverley Road on Friday, 09 September.

• From 10am - 4pm at Birtley East Community Primary School, Highfield on Saturday, 10 September.

(LM/CD)