Building and site description
Gateshead Millennium Bridge is the world’s first and only tilting bridge and the only foot and cycle bridge across the River Tyne, in a region famous for its architecturally diverse river bridges.
Gateshead Millennium Bridge © Michele Turriani
The bridge was officially opened by the Queen during her Golden Jubilee celebrations in May 2002.
The 126-metre construction consists of a pair of steel arches. One deck comprises the cycle and pedestrian paths on an almost horizontal curve, supported and stabilised from above by suspension cables.
The second deck counterbalances the other. The top of the arch reaches 50 metres above the water and forms an arc over the river.
When ships needs to pass through, the bridge opens hydraulically by tilting dramatically upwards from the surface of the water – quite a sight. The eight engines that drive it are housed in glass canopies at each end of the bridge. Opening and closing takes four and half minutes.
The first tilt (opening) of the bridge was watched by 36,000 people lining the banks of the Tyne in November 2000.
The £22 million bridge was transported section by section from Bolton where the structure was made. It was brought six miles upriver on Asian Hercules II, Europe’s largest floating crane, to be positioned at Gateshead. The bridge is embedded in 19,000 tonnes of concrete.
Gateshead Millennium Bridge is unique in its innovative design and use of cutting-edge technology. The precision of the technology for the tilt has been compared to a large eye opening. The design was by Wilkinson & Eyre Architects and Gifford & Partners, who had to meet the criteria of:
- allowing ships to pass underneath
- making sure it didn’t overshadow the view of existing bridges
- not obstructing the quayside.
All these criteria were met, and its design has won multiple awards over the years.
Architectural style
21st century postmodern bridge
Quirky facts
- The bridge can withstand a collision from a 4,000 tonne ship moving at 4 knots.
- The bridge is so energy efficient that each tilt costs only £3.60.
- It contains enough steel to make 64 double decker buses.
- The bridge weighs more than 800 tonnes.
Gateshead riverside public realm with view of Millennium Bridge © CABE
Structural highlights
- hydraulic tilt
- a pair of steel arches reaching 50 metres above water level
- lighting that fully illuminates the bridge without causing light pollution.
Using the Gateshead Millennium Bridge as a teaching resource
Exploring this very innovative structure helps students appreciate the purpose, meaning, function and design of the built environment. It shows them how something can be both beautiful and practical as they stroll across the bridge actually or virtually.
Suggested activities
Key stages 1 and 2
Draw the Gateshead Millennium Bridge and construct a 3-D model of it to study its unusual shape.
Key stages 2 and 3
Investigate other river bridges in the Newcastle and Gateshead area. Make notes on them and add a sketch or photograph of each. How long or high are they? What sort of transport do they carry? Plot the similarities and differences on a chart.
Key stage 4
Use the mathematical, engineering and scientific principles of the Gateshead Millennium Bridge as the basis of a practical assignment on bridge construction.
Region
North east
Location
Gateshead along the River Tyne
0191 478 4222 (tourist office)
Accessibility
Accessible to the general public 24 hours every day
Further information
Gateshead Council website contains detailed information on the construction and design process of the Gateshead Millennium Bridge.
The Tyne Bridge webcams let you watch live footage of the bridge.
Gateshead Quays website also has more information on the bridge.
