(01 Jul 2014, 6:20 pm)gtom wrote Slight Waggonway change 28A
Route as is from Chester Le Street then via Greenford Lane to Kibblesworth then Sainsburys Team Valley, Gold Medal then back to Sainsburys, Retail World, Team Valley (All stops) Bensham Bank, Gateshead Interchange, Tyne Bridge, John Dobson, Blackett, Eldon Sq.
Reasoning -
Since the closure of the Walk In Centre and its move to QE, there's no real need to link Saltwell Rd with Birtley/Ouston. The Crematorium is served by 21 (with a walk down) or the 69 (with change in Low Fell) The remains of Bensham Hospital are ably served by 69/53/54/29
Links to better shopping for Ouston residents and links for Chester to the Team Valley (growing importance as a shopping outlet and a retailer)
28 remains unchanged to maintain links to QE, Beamish and Birtley Medical Group (as Ouston is part of catchment area for that GP surgery)
Although you're probably right about there being no-need to link Saltwell Road with Birtley or Ouston, the link could still be kept using a variant on your suggestion. I don't know your reasoning behind sending the bus up to the Gold Medal and back again as the roundabout just outside of Sainsburys could be feasibly used for turning the bus around. Instead of having the bus run the full length along Kingsway to Lobley Hill Road, it could be rerouted via Western Avenue back onto Saltwell Road South and Saltwell Road. This would more or less keep all the links already there and have the added advantage of providing a new-link between Saltwell Road and Team Valley Retail World.