Traffic chaos erupted during the morning rush hour as the Tyne Bridge, a vital transport link between Newcastle and Gateshead, was completely shut down in both directions following a significant police incident in the early hours. The closure of the main route led to extensive disruption, with vehicles queuing for miles, creating substantial congestion stretching back through both Gateshead and into Newcastle. Emergency services rapidly deployed to the scene, involving both police and paramedic units, including specialist personnel from a Hazardous Area Response Team (HART), confirms The WP Times citing The Sun.
The extensive emergency response was initiated after a call received at 4:42 AM on Thursday, December 4, reporting an incident on the quayside in Newcastle. A spokesperson for the North East Ambulance Service confirmed that they dispatched two ambulance crews, two clinical team leaders, and two crews from their Hazardous Area Response Team to the location. The operation resulted in one individual being transported to a hospital to receive necessary medical treatment, although the nature of the incident remains undisclosed by authorities.
While the bridge has since been reopened to traffic, residual delays continued to plague commuters along the route for a sustained period. Compounding the morning's traffic issues, a separate incident simultaneously caused partial blockage and congestion along the A1 (M) Southbound. This separate disruption resulted in long queues on the major motorway, extending from Junction 62 (Carrville) to Junction 61 (Bowburn).
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