B601

The B601 is the possible number of a Class II road heading west of Gateshead. The road was originally part of the A692 then certainly gained the B601 number in the 1970s when the A692 was moved onto the bypass. In 1990 the A1 was moved onto the western bypass, taking the zone boundary with it. Whereas the eastern end of the A692 definitely became the A184 it is not certain whether the B601 number ceased to exist as well. Some maps and all the signs claim it as part of the B1426; however, other maps, including current OS Explorer sheets still acknowledge the B601, as do Gateshead MBC.

Lobley Hill Road

Assuming the road does still exist, it starts at Lobley Hill Interchange on the A1 where it also meets the A692. There's a brief dual stretch as far as the next roundabout, which serves the northern end of the Team Valley industrial estate; here we bear left and the road becomes S2. After going over the River Team we go under two railway bridges, the latter now disused, and become residential, although there's still a bit of light industry left. There's a final railway bridge, carrying the East Coast Main Line, and the road continues through the centre of Bensham. This merges seamlessly into Gateshead proper and we end at a roundabout on the A184 on the edge of the town centre.

To add further confusion to the history of the B601, the DfT Card Index from c2002 gives the B601 the rather unlikely route of 'High Team, Gateshead - Bensham - Alfreton - M6.' Now clearly the High Team - Bensham reference loosely relates to the route described above. However, Alfreton is in Derbyshire, and nowhere near the M6, certainly not close enough for a sensible B road connection. It seems likely that Alfreton and M6 are Red Herrings in this story, errors that somehow got into the system, but it does confirm that the B601 number was officially given to a route in Gateshead.