The Tyne Bridge is located in Newcastle/Gateshead which is in the North East of England. In August 1925 the bridge was built and in 1928 the bridge was officially opened by King George V. The Tyne Bridge was designed by engineering firm Mott, Hay and Anderson and was built by Dorman Long & Co who also built the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge in Australia.
History of the Tyne Bridge
The Tyne Bridge only took three years to build which comes as a surprise to many people as the structure is giant. The bridge was built like a ship, using shipbuilding techniques with rivets and panels which were welded together.
Some facts and information
At the time of being built the Tyne Bridge was the longest span bridge. It was built to let people and vehicles cross over the River Tyne after a series of bridges going back to Pons Aelius in the year 122. The Tyne Bridge is a very important icon for the people in the North East. The bridge is a symbol of Tyneside.
Kittiwakes
Kittiwakes are a type of seagull/gull that have been living alongside the Tyne Bridge for many years. Kittiwakes have been nesting on the quayside since the 1960s. There are over 2,500 kittiwakes nesting alongside the Tyne Bridge, and another 1,300 that have settled on top of many buildings in Newcastle. Some kittiwakes also live on the underside of the bridge on many of the support beams and in little crevices.
The future of the bridge
The Tyne Bridge still looks impressive as of 2024. Newcastle council takes care of the bridge and might be painting it soon as it is rusting. Certainly if you have recently gone across the bridge you might notice that the colour is starting to fade but many people of Newcastle are hopeful that the bridge may be painted soon.
*Update
Funding for painting the Tyne Bridge has just been confirmed.
