Gateshead Millennium Bridge

Infobox Bridge


bridge_name = Gateshead Millennium Bridge
caption =
official_name =
locale = Newcastle/Gateshead, England
carries = Cyclists
Pedestrians
crosses = River Tyne
maint =
begin =
complete =
open = 17 September 2001 (public)
7 May 2002 (official)
below =
traffic =
design = Arch Bridge
toll =
mainspan = 105 m
length = 126 m
width = 8 m

The Gateshead Millennium Bridge is a pedestrian and cyclist tilt bridge spanning the River Tyne in England between Gateshead on the south bank, and Newcastle upon Tyne on the north bank. The award-winning structure was conceived and designed by architects Wilkinson Eyre and structural engineers Gifford. [cite web|url=http://www.gifford.uk.com/ProjectProfiles.asp?id=22 |work=Gifford Ltd. |title=Gateshead Millennium Bridge, Tyneside |accessdate=2007-06-16]

Design

The bridge was lifted into place in one piece by the Asian Hercules II, [cite web|url=http://www.gateshead.gov.uk/Leisure%20and%20Culture/bridge/Delivery%20and%20Opening.aspx |work=Gateshead City Council |title=Delivery and Opening |accessdate=2007-11-25] one of the world's largest floating cranes, on 20 November 2000. It was opened to the public on 17 September 2001,cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1545986.stm| title=Tilting bridge opens eye to the world| publisher=BBC News| date=2001-09-17|accessdate=2008-09-24] and was dedicated by Queen Elizabeth II on 7 May 2002. [cite news |title=Streaker mars royal tour |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/1972813.stm |publisher=BBC News |date=2002-05-07 |accessdate=2008-05-04] The bridge, which cost £22m to build, was part funded by the Millennium Commission and European Regional Development Fund. It was built by Volker Stevin. [ [http://en.structurae.de/structures/data/index.cfm?id=s0001254 Structurae database] ]

Already acclaimed worldwide for its physical and aesthetic beauty, it has fast become a significant tourist attraction in its own right. The bridge was the focus of a Spencer Tunick installation on 17 July 2005. [cite web|url=http://www.24hourmuseum.org.uk/newcastleandgateshead/news/ART33644.html |work=24 Hour Museum |title=Spencer Tunick's Naked Installation Photos On Show At Baltic |accessdate=2007-11-25]

Six 450mm diameter Hydraulic rams (three on each side, each powered by a 55kW electric motor) rotate the bridge back on large bearings to allow small ships and boats (up to 25m tall) to pass underneath. The bridge takes as little as 4.5 minutes to rotate through the full 40° from closed to open, depending on wind speed. Its appearance during this manoeuvre has led to it being nicknamed the "Blinking Eye Bridge".

The bridge has operated reliably since construction, opening to allow river traffic to pass. It also opens periodically for sightseers and for major events such as the Northumbrian Water University Boat Race and the Cutty Sark Tall Ships' Race. Its reputation was untarnished until October 2004 when the failure of a £200 circuit board prevented the bridge from opening.Fact|date=September 2008

The construction of the bridge won the architects Wilkinson Eyre the 2002 Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Stirling Prizecite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2038662.stm| title='Blinking-eye' bridge lands award| publisher=BBC News| accessdate=2008-09-24] and won Gifford the 2003 IStructE Supreme Award.Fact|date=September 2008 In winning the Stirling Prize, Wilkinson Eyre became the first, and so far the only, firm of architects to retain British architecture's most prestigious prize — they won the 2001 prize for the Magna Science Adventure Centre. In 2005, the bridge received the Outstanding Structure Award from International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering (IABSE).Fact|date=September 2008

Statistics

* Cost: GBP £22 million
* Weight: 850 tons
* Height: 50 m
* Width: 126 m

Photo gallery

References

External links

*
* [http://www.gateshead.gov.uk/Leisure%20and%20Culture/bridge/Background.aspx Gateshead Council page]
* [http://www.ejayar.ndo.co.uk/eye.html construction photographs]
* [http://www.wilkinsoneyre.com wilkinsoneyre.com]
* [http://www.gifford.uk.com/ProjectProfiles.asp?id=22 Gateshead Millennium Bridge, Tyneside] , Gifford, Ltd.
* [http://demonstrations.wolfram.com/GatesheadMillenniumBridge/ Gateshead Millennium Bridge] by Sándor Kabai, The Wolfram Demonstrations Project.