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Road shuts until end of year for urban park works

Gareth Lightfoot
Local Democracy Reporting Service
LDRS Riverside Road in Stockton is a four-lane road. There is a row of orange traffic cones in the middle, with a yellow diversion sign at the top. Cars are travelling in both directions.LDRS
The closure later this month is to keep the Waterfront project on track

A road will close until the end of the year after a town centre development was delayed by cabling works.

Stockton's Riverside Road has already been down to two lanes for more than a year but it will now shut completely on 26 May, along with Riverside Car Park.

The council said the full closure was to keep the Stockton Waterfront urban park on track for opening in spring 2026.

The local authority added the measure would have limited impact on traffic, with diversions in place.

The multimillion-pound Stockton Waterfront includes a 180ft (55m) land bridge structure, an extension of the existing Millennium footbridge and the construction of an amphitheatre that will link the High Street to the riverside.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service said the urban park had been delayed after cable diversion works took longer than expected.

Ryder Architecture A visualisation of what the Stockton town centre urban park might look like. The river is in the foreground with wide, sweeping steps leading up to areas of grass and trees, intersected by paths. A road runs underneath the park. Ryder Architecture
The project includes an amphitheatre

They were completed in four months but still set back the waterfront project and the council said closing the road was the most cost-effective way to manage the impact.

Stephen McClean, construction manager at Esh Construction, said the firm was working with the council to ensure disruption was kept to a minimum.

"This closure is the most effective way to ensure the project remains on schedule and will enable us to operate more efficiently and safely across the site," he added.

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council An aerial view of a narrow, modern white footbridge over the River Tees. The bend of the river can be seen to the right with the bridge disappearing out of shot. On the left, the river gives way to yellow building machinery on the bank. In the foreground is a building with a tiled roof behind which a line of cars are parked. A road along the bank has tall silver fencing on one side and short red and white barriers on the other. There is a large expanse of flattened earth between the road and the buildings of Stockton. Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council
Works on the urban park are set to be completed next year

There will be alternative access to Quayside Road businesses via Moat Street and temporary access through the former builder's yard.

Existing cycle and pedestrian diversions will continue.

Deputy council leader Paul Rowling said: "It's not a decision we are happy to make but we feel it's the right one to make.

"We have fully considered a range of options to minimise disruption to residents and businesses and we're going to monitor and assess the impact of the closure."

The council added it had spoken to local businesses and would support them during the development.

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