Government is being urged to fund a complete refurbishment of the Tyne Bridge which according to Newcastle City Council “needs a long overdue major maintenance programme” to arrest deterioration of the structure.
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The bridge carries traffic between Newcastle and Gateshead over the River Tyne and is a Grade II listed structure which completed construction in 1928. The council has submitted a bid to Government for £18.45M from the Levelling Up Fund to restore the bridge, with just under £2M to be contributed in match funding.
“The Tyne Bridge is recognised the world over and is not only an iconic landmark, it is also a key part of the city’s infrastructure and a gateway to our city and the wider region,” said Newcastle City Council Leader Nick Forbes. “It is 20 years since the historic crossing was refurbished and it is badly in need of restoration to return it to its former glory.”
The proposed works include steelwork and concrete repairs, drainage improvements, stonework and masonry repairs, bridge deck waterproofing, parapet protection and bridge joint replacement.
These works promise to maintain the load capacity of the structure and future proof the route by reducing the need for more frequent ‘ad-hoc’ maintenance works.
The council’s bid is said to be backed by all three Newcastle Members of Parliament. MP for Newcastle-upon-Tyne Central Chi Onwurah demonstrated her support for the project in the House of Commons last week where she raised it with Transport Minister Andrew Stephenson.
“As well as being a great icon of North East people, culture and engineering, the Tyne Bridge is an essential part of our transport infrastructure and it is in a dire state,” the Labour MP said. She asked: “Does the Minister agree that the Tyne Bridge must be levelled up if it is going to be in a fit state to celebrate its 100th birthday in 2028 as a beautiful and functional symbol of the north?”
Andrew Stephenson responded that he was aware of the council’s bid and said allocations from the Levelling Up Fund would be announced in the Autumn.
If the bid is successful, work could start on site from late summer 2022 with the whole restoration programme expected to take up to two years.
(Photograph: Bryn Pinzgauer and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence)
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