Tyne Bridges
Tyne Bridge
The Tyne Bridge connects Pilgrim street in Newcastle with the high street in Newcastle was constructed by the Corporations of Newcastle and Gateshead with the assistance of the ministry of transport and opened by H.M. King George V in 1928.
It consists of two main piers of steel work and granite, from the bases of which springs a parabolic arch of steel lattice framework rising to a height of 183 feet above the high water mark with a span of 531 feet from which the roadway 56 feet in width is hung. The design of the bridge is attributed to Messrs. Dorman,Long & Co.Ltd.
Swing Bridge
The Swing Bridge is the fifth on a historic site. Bridges have crossed at this location during Roman, Norman and Medieval settlements. The bridge during medieval times was built of stone and with a style similar to that of London Bridge with shops and accommodation. This was destroyed in the great flood of 1771. The current swing bridge was finished in 1876 and was designed and constructed paid for by Sir W.G. Armstrong and Company Limited of Elswick.
High Level bridge
The High level bridge at the time of its erection was considered to be one of the engineering wonders of the world and remains a striking testimony to the genius of its creator, Robert Stephenson, son of George Stephenson. Originally intended for comparatively light traffic in those days, it is capable of bearing the heaviest of modern rolling stock,
King Edward VII Bridge
King Edward VII Bridge, the next bridge upstream was designed by the late Charles Harrison, engineer with North Eastern railway at the time and constructed by the Cleveland Bridge Company and opened by King Edward VII in 1906. It is for rail traffic only
Queen Elizabeth II Bridge
Open by Her Majesty the Queen in 1981 to enable the new public transport metro line to get from North to the South of the Tyne. Section of the bridge.
Redheugh Bridge
The Redheugh bridge dates back to 1871 and spans the Tyne from the West end of Newcastle to Gateshead near Dunston. The original bridge which had to be replaced with a new bridge which was opened in 1907 after serious structural problems were detected in the original bridge. During the 1960's more problems were found with the bridge with speed and weight restrictions enforced with limits of 10 mph and 8 and 10 tonnes. Engineers recommended that if the bridge were to be used any longer then it would need the approach roads and superstructures rebuilt. Again it was decided that it would be cheaper to rebuild and the new bridge which is used by thousands of cars a day was opened in 1983. The present bridge has an estimated life of 120 years and is a pre-stressed concrete structure in 3 sections of centre spanning 100 metres and 2 side sections of 160 metres. The bridge can support weight of up to 4,000 tonnes and has a total length of 897 metres.
Millenium Bridge
The Millennium Bridge is a used for pedestrians and cyclists, connecting Newcastle and Gateshead near the Pitcher and Piano and Law Courts (Newcastle) at the Baltic (Gateshead). The bridge designed by Gifford and Partners and Wilkinson Eyre Architects is visually stunning and opened in September 2001. Known as the "Eye" due to the winking movement as the bridge tilts to let ships past is a remarkable feet of engineering.
Newcastle Tyne Bridge Photos
