Gateshead Millennium Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gateshead Millennium Bridge |
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The bridge when tilted, as viewed from the Gateshead side
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| Coordinates | 54°58′11″N 1°35′57″W / 54.9698°N 1.5992°W |
| OS grid reference | |
| Carries |
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| Crosses | River Tyne |
| Locale | Tyneside |
| Official name | Gateshead Millennium Bridge |
| Other name(s) |
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| Owner | Gateshead Council |
| Preceded by | Tyne Bridge |
| Followed by | Tyne Pedestrian and Cyclist Tunnels |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Tilt bridge |
| Material | Steel |
| Pier construction | Concrete |
| Total length | 126 m (413 ft) |
| Width | 8 m (26 ft) |
| Longest span | 105 m (344 ft) |
| History | |
| Architect | WilkinsonEyre |
| Engineering design by | Gifford |
| Constructed by | Volker Stevin |
| Fabrication by | Watson Steel |
| Construction end | 28 June 2001 |
| Construction cost | £22 million |
| Opened | 17 September 2001 |
| Inaugurated |
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The Gateshead Millennium Bridge is a special bridge for people walking and cycling. It crosses the River Tyne in England, connecting the town of Gateshead with Newcastle upon Tyne. It opened in 2001 and has won many awards.
People sometimes call it the 'Blinking Eye Bridge' or the 'Winking Eye Bridge'. This is because of its unique shape and how it moves. The bridge was designed by WilkinsonEyre and Gifford. It's not the tallest building in the city, but it's very famous!
Building the Bridge
Building the Gateshead Millennium Bridge was a huge task! On November 20, 2000, the entire bridge was lifted into place. This was done by a giant floating crane called the Asian Hercules II.
The bridge officially opened to the public on September 17, 2001. Later, on May 7, 2002, Queen Elizabeth II dedicated the bridge. It cost about £22 million to build. Some of the money came from the Millennium Commission and the European Regional Development Fund. The company that built it was Volker Stevin.
How the Bridge Tilts
The Gateshead Millennium Bridge is a tilt bridge. This means it can move to let boats pass underneath. It uses six powerful hydraulic rams to do this. There are three rams on each side of the bridge. Each ram is powered by a strong electric motor.
The bridge can rotate up to 40 degrees. It takes only about 4 and a half minutes to open fully. This quick movement is why people call it the "Blinking Eye Bridge." It's also very energy-efficient. In 2017, it cost less than £4 to open the bridge!
The bridge opens regularly for river traffic. It also opens for special events, like boat races or tall ship festivals. Sometimes, it opens to allow access to HMS Calliope, a naval base where the Royal Navy patrol boat HMS Example is located.
Awards and Recognition
The Gateshead Millennium Bridge has won many important awards for its design and engineering.
- In 2002, the architect, WilkinsonEyre, won the Royal Institute of British Architects Stirling Prize. This is a very important award for buildings.
- In 2003, the engineering firm, Gifford, won the IStructE Supreme Award.
- In 2005, the bridge received the Outstanding Structure Award from the International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering.
When the bridge was first built, there were Bollards to protect it from collisions. However, these were later removed in March 2012 because they weren't really needed and looked a bit out of place.
You can find out when the bridge will tilt by checking the Gateshead Council website or signs on the bridge itself.
Images for kids
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The construction of Gateshead Millennium Bridge provided a link between wider regeneration projects in Newcastle (left) and Gateshead (right).
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Animation demonstrating how a tilt bridge operates to let both pedestrians cross and allow river traffic to pass underneath.
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Close-up of the pedestrian and cycle arch while the bridge is tilting.
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The hydraulic rams allow the bridge to fully tilt open in around 4 minutes.
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Gateshead Millennium Bridge lit purple at dusk. The lights on the bridge vary in colour over the weekend.
See also
In Spanish: Puente del Milenio (Gateshead) para niños
