Tyne Bridge
| Tyne Bridge | |
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Tyne Bridge looking towards the modern Sage Gateshead with the now moved Tuxedo Princess moored below. The banner is advertising the 2006 Great North Run
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| Coordinates | 54°58′05″N 1°36′22″W / 54.968°N 1.606°WCoordinates: 54°58′05″N 1°36′22″W / 54.968°N 1.606°W |
| Carries |
A167 road Motor vehicles Cyclists Pedestrians |
| Crosses | River Tyne |
| Locale | Newcastle upon Tyne and Gateshead, England |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Through arch bridge |
| Total length | 389 metres (1,276 ft) |
| Width | 17 metres (56 ft) |
| Longest span | 161.8 metres (531 ft) |
| Clearance below | 26 metres (85 ft) |
| History | |
| Construction begin | August 1925 |
| Construction end | 25 February 1928 |
| Opened | 10 October 1928 |
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The Tyne Bridge is a through arch bridge over the River Tyne in North East England, linking Newcastle upon Tyne and Gateshead. The Bridge was designed by the engineering firm Mott, Hay and Anderson, who later designed the Forth Road Bridge, and was built by Dorman Long and Co. of Middlesbrough. The bridge was officially opened on 10 October 1928 by King George V and has since become a defining symbol of Tyneside. It is ranked as the tenth tallest structure in the city.
The earliest bridge across the Tyne, Pons Aelius, was built by the Romans near the location of the present Tyne Bridge. Built around 122, it fell into disrepair. The next bridge built was one of stone in 1270. After 500 years, this was destroyed by the great flood of 1771. In 1781, a new stone bridge across the Tyne was completed. Increased shipping activity led to the stone bridge being removed in 1866 to make way for construction of the present Swing Bridge, which opened in 1876.
Work started in August 1925 with Dorman Long acting as the building contractors. Despite the dangers of the building work, only one worker, Nathaniel Collins, a father of four and a local scaffolder from South Shields, died in the building of this structure.
The Tyne Bridge was designed by Mott, Hay and Anderson, comparably to their Sydney Harbour Bridge version. These bridges derived their design from the Hell Gate Bridge in New York City. The bridge was completed on 25 February 1928, and officially opened on 10 October by King George V and Queen Mary, who were the first to use the roadway, travelling in their Ascot landau. The opening ceremony was attended by 20,000 schoolchildren who had been given the day off. Movietone news recorded the speech given by the King.
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Wikipedia