Press Releases

Claims by environmentalists that building a second Tyne tunnel would lead to a massive increase in traffic have been confirmed - by the organisation that wants it built.

Friends of the Earth, which is opposing the controversial PFI road scheme has always claimed that far from easing congestion, creating more road space by building a new tunnel would generate more traffic leading to even greater congestion. Up until now this had been denied by the PTA (Passenger Transport Authority.)

But in their application to build a second road tunnel the PTA has had to admit, “The very real possibility is that the construction of additional capacity would release suppressed demand”. The PTA application shows an increase of over 9,000 vehicles per day as a direct result of building a new Tyne tunnel. Almost all of this increase would occur at peak times, leading to increased congestion and pollution on the roads of North and South Tyneside.

Bryan Atkinson of Friends of the Earth, South Tyneside said:

“The PTA has let the cat out of the bag. The roads of North and South Tyneside will be choked with thousands of extra vehicles as a direct result of building another tunnel.”

“When we first said that building another road tunnel would lead to more congestion the PTA denied it; they even accused us of being ‘paranoid’. Now they have had to eat their words. A new tunnel is a recipe for gridlock and ill health. The only people who will benefit are the PFI Company that will collect the tolls.”