Public transport arrangements during B1281 roadworks

Road works are scheduled to begin tomorrow on a 940m stretch of the B1281 between the Gray Avenue junction at Hesleden and The Village junction at Castle Eden (please see posts dated Wednesday 8 July and Friday 17 July 2020 for full details).

I made enquiries with the county council’s integrated passenger transport section to try to find out which public transport arrangements have been put in place by the bus companies during the three days of the road closure. I’ve reproduced the response below in full:: 

Apologies for the late reply but I’ve been trying to finalise details with Go North East. 

The service 55 will operate to/from Peterlee as follows: 

Peterlee – A19 – Castle Eden Turning Circle – Wingate – Station Town – Hutton Henry – A19 – Castle Eden Turning Circle – A19 – Peterlee. 

Horden, Blackhall Colliery/Rocks, High Hesleden, Hesleden will be omitted from the route as will the east end of Castle Eden. 

I appreciate that there will be some patronage from the above areas and we have therefore decided to run a shuttle during the affected times (09:30 – 15:30) between Hesleden and Peterlee. Contracted to GNE to keep things simple (connection/communication between buses being the main benefit). 

Maintains links from Hesleden/High Hesleden/Blackhall to Peterlee but also gives those areas an opportunity to connect with 55 at Peterlee for onward travel to Wingate/Station Town/Hutton Henry (and return via same arrangement of course). 

East end of Castle Eden – Passengers basically have to find their way to the turning circle at the west end of Castle Eden. 

Please direct all queries and comments to the Integrated Passenger Transport section via the DCC help desk on: 03000 260000.