Crossings & Newcastle

Local Studies Factsheet No. 1 PART ONE RIVER TYNE CROSSINGS

1. HIGH LEVEL Traffic: railrail (upper(upper deck)deck) roadroad (lower(lower deck)deck) Length: 1337ft (407.8m) total 512ft (l56.2m)(l56.2m) Designer/Engineer: RobertRobert StephensonStephenson andand T.E.T.E. over water. 6 x 125ft (38.l m) main Harrison spans Contractor/Builder: Hawks,Hawks, CrawshayCrawshay (ironwork)(ironwork) Width: c. 40ft (12.2m) Construction: Began 1 Oct 1846, completed June Headroom: 85ft85ft (25.92m)(25.92m) aboveabove highhigh 1849 water level Opened: 28 Sep 1849 by Queen Victoria. Trains first crossed 15 Aug 1849 - no ceremony. Road traffic first crossed 4 Feb 1850. Road deck strengthened 1922 to take trams. deck strengthened 1922 to take trams.

2. SCOTSWOOD RAILWAY BRIDGE Traffic: railrail Length: 697ft (212.6m) total, 1 x 75ft 6in Designer/engineer: TE.TE. Harrison.Harrison. (23m)(23m) spanspan 5 x 124ft 4in (37.9m) spans Opened: 1871. Strengthened in 1943 Width: 25ft 4in (7.7m) Closed: Nov 1982 Headroom: (rail(rail toto water)water) 22ft22ft 11in11in (7m)(7m) This was a rebuild of a bridge erected in 1839 burned down 1860

3. SWING BRIDGE Traffic: roadroad Length: 560ft560ft (170.8m)(170.8m) totaltotal Designer/Engineer/Builder: SirSir W.G.W.G. ArmstrongArmstrong && 281ft (85.7m) swing span Co, under Tyne Improvement Commission supervi- Width: 47ft47ft 6in6in (14.48m)(14.48m) sion. Construction: BeganBegan 2323 Sep.Sep. 1868,1868, completedcompleted 18761876 Headroom: 14ft14ft 6in6in (4.42m)(4.42m) aboveabove highhigh Opened: 15 June 1876 (no ceremony). water level

4. BRIDGE Traffic: roadroad Length: 475ft475ft (l44.8m)(l44.8m) total.total. Designer/Engineer:: SandemanSandeman andand MoncrieffMoncrieff 4xl03ft 4xl03ft 6in6in (31.(31. 6m)6m) spanspan Contractor/Builder:: Head,Head, WrightsonWrightson && Co.Co. Width: 28ft28ft (8.54m)(8.54m) roadwayroadway Construction: CompletedCompleted MayMay 18931893 Headroom: 2lft2lft (6(6 4m)4m) aboveabove highhigh Opened: 2121 MayMay 18931893 (no(no ceremony).ceremony). water level

5. (OLD) Traffic: roadroad Length: 1192ft. (363.6m) total Designer/Engineer:: J.WJ.W SandemanSandeman andand MoncrieffMoncrieff 2 x 248ft (75.6m) spans, 2x 168ft. forfor RedheughRedheugh BridgeBridge Co.Co. (51.2m)(51.2m) spansspans Contractor/Builder:Sir:Sir WilliamWilliam ArrolArrol && Co.Co. Width: c.40ft. (12.2m) Construction: began 1897, completed 13 Aug 1901 Headroom: 87ft.87ft. (26.5m)(26.5m) aboveabove highhigh Water level Opened: 1313 Aug.1901Aug.1901 byby Mr.Mr. R.R. CailCail Demolished: latelate 19841984 This was rebuild of a bridge erected 1868/70

6. KING EDWARD VII BRIDGE Traffic: railrail Length: 1150ft1150ft (350.75m)(350.75m) Designer/Engineer: CharlesCharles HarrisonHarrison Width: 50ft50ft (15.25m)(15.25m) Contractor/Builder: ClevelandCleveland BridgeBridge && Headroom: 83ft83ft (25.3m)(25.3m) aboveabove Engineering Co. high water level Construction: BeganBegan JulyJuly 19021902 completedcompleted JulyJuly 1906 Opened: 1010 JulyJuly 19061906 byby KingKing EdwardEdward VIIVII

7. NEW Traffic: roadroad Length: 1304ft (397.72m) total Designer/Engineer: Mott,Mott, HavHav && AndersonAnderson 531ft531ft (161.95m)(161.95m) mainmain spanspan Contractor/Builder: Dorman,Dorman, Long & Co. Width: 56ft56ft (17.08m)(17.08m) Construction: BeganBegan JulyJuly 1925,1925, completedcompleted 19291929 Headroom: 84ft84ft (25.62m)(25.62m) aboveabove highhigh water level Opened: 1010 OctOct 19281928 byby KingKing GeorgeGeorge VV

TYNE BRIDGE v - WHICH CAME FIRST? The myth that the Tyne Bridge was the model for the Sydney Harbour Bridge has been perpetuated for many years. IT IS NOT TRUE! Dr. J.C. Bradfield, an Australian engineer submitted full particulars of the quantities and prices of the materials to be used for the Sydney Harbour Bridge before tenders were opened. His design was modified by Dorman, Long and Co. the winning tender, but their changes must have provided a de- sign at least as good as the original, otherwise it would not have been accepted by Bradfield. Although the Tyne Bridge was completed and in use before the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the following chronology will show that the works for Sydney came first. SYDNEY TYNE 28th July 1923 Turning of the first sod. No similar ceremony 24th March 1924 Tender accepted and contract December 1924 Tender accepted and contract signed. signed 5th January 1925 Excavations for foundations August 1925 Site work commenced commenced. 19th March 1932 Bridge opened for traffic. 10th October 1928 Bridge officially opened. 8. TYNE PEDESTRIAN TUNNEL Traffic: Cycle,Cycle, footfoot Length: 900ft900ft (274.5m)(274.5m) Designer/Engineer: MottMott HayHay && AndersonAnderson Diameter: 10ft10ft (3.05m)(3.05m) pedestrianpedestrian Contractor/Builder: CharlesCharles BrandBrand && SonSon l2ft l2ft (3.66m)(3.66m) cyclecycle Construction: Began 4 June 1947 completed 24 Depth: crowncrown ofof tunneltunnel l6ftl6ft (4.83m)(4.83m) July 1951 below river bed. Opened: 2424 JulyJuly 1951,1951, byby AlfredAlfred BarnesBarnes MP,MP, Escalator rise 85ft (25.8m),(25.8m), escalatorescalator Minister of Transport tunnel 200ft (61m) deep Minister of Transport tunnel 200ft (61m) deep

9. Traffic: roadroad Length: 455ft455ft 7in7in (l38.(l38.9m) total main 329ft 329ft 7in7in (100.5m)(100.5m) spanspan Designer/Engineer: Mott,Mott, HayHay && AndersonAnderson Width: 66ft (20.13m) Contractor/Builder: Mitchell,Mitchell, Costain,Costain, Kinnear,Kinnear, Headroom: 25ft (7.6m) above high Moddies Group Ltd. water level Construction: BeganBegan 1818 Sep.Sep. 1964, completed 20 Mar. 1967 Opened: 2020 MarMar 19671967 byby AlderrnanAlderrnan PeterPeter RenwickRenwick

10. TYNE VEHICULAR TUNNEL Traffic: roadroad Length: 5500ft5500ft (167.75m)(167.75m) Designer/Engineer: Mott,Mott, HayHay && AndersonAnderson Diameter: 3lft3lft 33 inin (9.53m)(9.53m) Contractor/Builder: EdmundEdmund NuttallNuttall SonsSons && Depth: crowncrown ofof tunneltunnel 50ft50ft Co. (15.25m)(15.25m) below river bed, 90ft (27.45m)(27.45m) belowbelow highhigh waterwater levellevel Construction: BeganBegan 1961,1961, completedcompleted Oct 1967 Opened: 1919 OctOct 19671967 byby QueenQueen ElizabethElizabeth IIII Opened for traffic 20 Oct 1967

11. QUEEN ELIZABETH II BRIDGE Traffic: railrail (metro(metro rapidrapid transit)transit) Length: ll5ftll5ft 6in6in (352.7m)(352.7m) totaltotal Designer/Engineer: WA.WA. FairhurstFairhurst && 540ft (164.7m) main span Ptns (Northern) Contractor/Builder:: ClevelandCleveland BridgeBridge && Width: 33ft33ft 6in6in (l0.2m)(l0.2m) Engineering Co. Construction: Began 1976, completed 1 Aug Headroom: 82ft82ft (25.01m)(25.01m) aboveabove 1978 high water level Opened: 66 NovNov 19811981 byby QueenQueen ElizabethElizabeth IIII

12. REDHEUGH BRIDGE (NEW) Traffic: roadroad Length:,, 525525 ftft (160m)(160m) mainmain span,span, 2210ft Designer/Engineer: Mott,Mott, HayHay && AndersonAnderson (674rn) (674rn) between North and South abut- ments, Contractor/Builder: NuttallNuttall // HBMHBM 2942ft 2942ft (897m)(897m) totaltotal lengthlength betweenbetween Scotswood Rd. and Askew Rd. flyover Construction: BeganBegan 2424 AprilApril 19801980 completedcompleted SepSep Width: 52ft52ft (15.8m)(15.8m) 1983 Opened: 1818 MayMay 19831983 byby thethe PrincessPrincess ofof WalesWales Headroom: 85ft (26.06m) above high water level water level

13. BRIDGE Traffic: roadroad Length: 1089ft1089ft (332m)(332m) totaltotal Designer/Engineer:: BullenBullen && PartnersPartners 354ft 3in (108m) main span Contractor/Builder:: EdmundEdmund NuttallNuttall Ltd.Ltd. 2 x 216ft 6in (66m) side spans Construction: BeganBegan 1616 NovNov 19871987 completedcompleted 3030 144ft 4in (44m) and 157ft 5in (48m) end Nov 1990 spans Opened: 33 DecDec 19901990 byby QueenQueen ElizabethElizabeth IIII Headroom: MidMid spanspan 42ft42ft 4in4in (12.9m)(12.9m) above high water level

14. BLAYDON HAUGHS VIADUCT (Southern approach to Blaydon Bridge) Traffic: roadroad Length: 1738ft 3in (30m) total spans Vary but an average 10ft (31m) Designer/Engineer: BullenBullen && PartnersPartners

Contractor/Builder: EdmundEdmund NuttallNuttall Ltd.Ltd. Construction: BeganBegan 1616 NovNov 1987,1987, completedcompleted 3030 NovNov 19901990 Opened: 3 Dec 1990 by Queen Elizabeth II

15. MILLENNIUM BRIDGE Traffic: Pedestrian & cycle Length: 413ft (126m)

Designer: Wilkinson Eyre Width: Pedestrian deck – 4.5m at endendss Contractor/Builder: HarbourHarbour and General narrowing to 3.2m in centre Cycle deck—2.5m Construction: Built by Watson Steel in Bolton, Lan- Headroom: Rises 164ft (50m) above cashire and assembled at AMEC yard, . river Transported and lowered into position by giant crane Hercules II on Monday 20thth November 2000

Opened: Monday 17thth September 2001. Official opening by Queen Elizabeth II on Tuesday 7thth May 2002.

The 600 tonne structure operates like a giant eyelid slowly opening, turning on a pivot on either side of the river, to form an allowing ships to pass. PART TWO: OTHER NEWCASTLE BRIDGES

16. ARMSTRONG BRIDGE Traffic: Formerly road, closed to roadroad traffictraffic 1717 JulyJuly Length: 552552 ftft (168.7m)(168.7m) 1963 Designer/Engineer: SirSir W.G.W.G. Armstrong/NewcastleArmstrong/Newcastle Width: 25ft25ft (7.62m)(7.62m) Town Improvement Committee Contractor/Builder: W. E. and C. Jackson Headroom: 30-65ft30-65ft (9.15m-19.82m)(9.15m-19.82m) Opened: 30 April 1878 by Sir W. C. Armstrong

17. BYKER BRIDGE Traffic: roadroad Length: c.c. 1130ft1130ft (344.65m)(344.65m) Opened: ByBy thethe Vice-ChairmanVice-Chairman ofof BykerByker BridgeBridge Width:: originallyoriginally 30ft30ft (9.15m),(9.15m), Company to pedestrians on 19th October 1878 and widened to 50ft (15.25m) in 1899 toto cartscarts andand carriagescarriages onon 27th27th JanuaryJanuary 18791879 (I/2d(I/2d tolltoll -- withdrawnwithdrawn onon 1212 AprilApril 1895)1895) DeckDeck rebuiltrebuilt MayMay 1985-March 1986

18. BYKER METRO VIADUCT Traffic: railrail (metro(metro rapidrapid transit)transit) Length: 2674ft2674ft (815m)(815m) Designer/Engineer: OveOve ArupArup andand PartnersPartners Width: c.c. 27ft27ft (8.2m)(8.2m) Contractor/Builder: John Mowlem Headroom: 98ft98ft (30m)(30m) atat highesthighest point Construction: Began June 1976, completed July 1979 Opened: 11 Nov. 1982 as part of official opening of St. James to Tynemouth section of the Metro Metro

19. DEAN STREET VIADUCT Traffic: rail Length: 80ft (24.4m) Contractor/Engineer: Rush and Lawton Width: c.50ft (15.25m) Construction: Completed AugustAugust 1848 Headroom: 80ft (24.4m) Opened: 29th August l848 Originally double-tracked, line was four-tracked in 1893 and the viviaductaduct doubled in width to the north of the original.

21. OUSEBURN VIADUCT Traffic: railrail Length: 918ft918ft (280m)(280m) Designer/Engineer: JohnJohn andand BenjaminBenjamin GreenGreen Width: 50ft50ft (15.25m)(15.25m) Construction: Started: 13 Jan 1837 Headroom: l08ftl08ft (32.94m)(32.94m) Opened: 18 June1839 (opening of Newcastle and North Shields Railway) rebuilt in iron 1867-9. Originally two-tracked line was four-tracked in 1887 with the addition of a new viaduct alongside and to the north of the original. addition of a new viaduct alongside and to the north of the original.

IssuedIssued JuneJune 20092009 byby :: Newcastle Local Studies & Family History Centre City Library Charles Avison Building 33 New Bridge St West NE1 8AX

Tel: 277 4100

E-mail: [email protected]