During Sunday 24 February 2013, Sunderland City Council had to temporally close the southern end of John Street and the west end of Borough Road. This temporary closure was to facilitate essential roadworks associated with the Borough Road highways improvements scheme. Because of this, all southbound/westbound trips on services 3, 4, 5A, 10, 11, 13, 16 and 23 had to be diverted away from the affected area.

Examples of services on diversion can be seen on the photos below:

- 34609 on service 10 (danielgrahamm)

- 35157 on service 11 (danielgrahamm)

- 35189 on service 16 (danielgrahamm)

- 36085 on service 4 (danielgrahamm)

- 36087 on service 3 (danielgrahamm)

- 39731 on service 13 (danielgrahamm)