Gateshead Millennium Bridge

Gateshead Millennium Bridge

Above: Gateshead Millennium Bridge, looking west along the River Tyne, as viewed from the Gateshead side
Below: Gateshead Millennium Bridge when tilted, also viewed from the Gateshead side
Coordinates54°58′11″N 1°35′57″W / 54.9698°N 1.5992°W / 54.9698; -1.5992
OS grid referenceNZ256639
Carries
  • Cyclists
  • Pedestrians
CrossesRiver Tyne
LocaleTyneside
Official nameGateshead Millennium Bridge
Other name(s)
  • The Blinking Eye Bridge
  • The Winking Eye Bridge
OwnerGateshead Council
Websitewww.gateshead.gov.uk/article/4594/Gateshead-Millennium-Bridge
Preceded byTyne Bridge
Followed byTyne Pedestrian and Cyclist Tunnels
Characteristics
DesignTilt bridge
MaterialSteel
Pier constructionConcrete
Total length126 m (413 ft)
Width8 m (26 ft)
Longest span105 m (344 ft)
History
ArchitectWilkinsonEyre
Engineering design byGifford
Constructed byVolker Stevin
Fabrication byWatson Steel
Construction end28 June 2001
Construction cost£22 million
Opened17 September 2001 (2001-09-17)
Inaugurated
Location
Map

The Gateshead Millennium Bridge is a pedestrian and cyclist tilt bridge spanning the River Tyne between Gateshead arts quarter on the south bank and Newcastle upon Tyne's Quayside area on the north bank. It was the first tilting bridge ever to be constructed.[1] Opened for public use in 2001, the award-winning[2] structure was conceived and designed by architectural practice WilkinsonEyre and structural engineering firm Gifford.[3] The bridge is sometimes called the 'Blinking Eye Bridge'[4] or the 'Winking Eye Bridge'[5] due to its shape and its tilting method. The Millennium Bridge stands as the twentieth tallest structure in the city, and is shorter in stature than the neighbouring Tyne Bridge.

  1. ^ "Gateshead Millennium Bridge". Northern Innovation, Newcastle University. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference :6 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "Gateshead Millennium Bridge, Tyneside". Gifford Ltd. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
  4. ^ "'Blinking-eye' bridge lands award". BBC News. BBC. 11 June 2002. Retrieved 27 February 2010. Gateshead's 'blinking-eye' bridge has landed a major honour.
  5. ^ Higham, Nick (9 May 2002). "Jubilee tour diary: The North East". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 27 February 2010. In Gateshead, the Queen opened the 'Winking Eye' bridge.