00:01Work to overhaul Newcastle's busiest shopping street is entering its final phase but sections
00:06remain fenced off as council teams complete finishing work on paving, lighting and public
00:11spaces along Northumberland Street after months of delay and disruption to shoppers in place.
00:19Council officials say most of the project is now complete with remaining work focused
00:24on sealing new paving and removing temporary barriers after underground utility networks
00:29caused unexpected delays that pushed back the original summer completion date by around a
00:35whole year. A sixth and final pilgrim pole is still to be installed at the Blackett Street
00:41end of the street after high voltage cables were discovered beneath the planned location
00:46although foundations are now in place and installation is expected in the coming weeks.
00:52The wider scheme has brought new seating, rain gardens and tree planting to the street
00:58alongside full repaving designed to reflect Newcastle's heritage and historic links to
01:04the route towards Lindisfarne creating more space for people to sit, to meet and to spend time.
01:11Once final power connections are completed the new lighting will be fully operational
01:16marking the end of the scheme. Council leaders say the streets open for business
01:20this with remaining barriers due to come down as work finishes in sections across the street.
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