Gateshead Millennium Bridge
The Gateshead Millennium Bridge is the successful marriage of functionality and aesthetic design. The curved pedestrian footbridge and cycleway unites Gateshead and Newcastle upon Tyne and is testimony to great bridge engineering, possessing both flair and character.
This unique bridge is the only one of its kind that can tilt, offering boats and ships a safe and spectacular thoroughfare. The structure is raised to a 40o angle at regular intervals during the day, impressing locals and tourists who have compared the movement to the blinking of an eye.
Structurally, the Gateshead Millennium Bridge needs extra strength and stability to cope with the strain created by its rotating motion. The bridge's deck is supported by steel cables which hang from the 50m high crescent shaped arch, keeping the 850 tonne structure intact. The arch and deck are also joined at each end which provides additional support.
This award winning bridge has added an extra dimension to the visual appeal of this attractive riverfront. The modern crossing faces the historic Tyne Bridge, built in 1928, which provides an obvious and refreshing reminder of the developing nature of structural engineering.
Click here to return to the structures