Newcastle s Beautiful Bridge

T yne Bridge is a stunning         construction process.              structure, which crosses                                           the River Tyne and connects     By February 1928, construction     Newcastle with Gateshead. Ideas       was finished and a few months      for the bridge began around 1864,     later, on 10 October 1928, King    as people thought that a new          George V and the Queen officially  bridge would ease traffic             opened Tyne Bridge. Thousands of   congestion, as well as providing      spectators watched them as they    a new river crossing. However,        drove over the bridge in their     the design process only seriously     Ascot Landau and became the very   started to get underway in the        first people to use the roadway.   early 1920s. Mott, Hay and                                               Anderson were responsible for the     The Bridge is an excellent         bridge’s design, and the results      example of a compression arch      were so impressive, they were         suspended-deck bridge. The most    later asked to design Edinburgh’s     famous example of this type of     landmark Forth Rail Bridge.           bridge is the Sydney Harbour                                             Bridge, which was built in 1932.   Middlesbrough-based contractors,      It is often thought that the Tyne  Dorman Long, began working on the     Bridge inspired the design of      bridge in August 1925, although       this bridge, although this is a    it was a dangerous job for the        myth as work actually started on   workers. The brave workers were       the Sydney Harbour Bridge before   nicknamed 'spider men,' as they       the Tyne Bridge – it just took     had to balance 80ft over the          longer to complete due to its      river and worked without the use      size.                              of safety ropes and harness.                                             However, despite the many risks       By February 1928, construction     involved, just one man, Charles       was finished and a few months      Tosh, lost his life during the        later, on 10 October 1928, King    George V and the Queen officially     of safety ropes and harness.       opened Tyne Bridge. Thousands of      However, despite the many risks    spectators watched them as they       involved, just one man, Charles    drove over the bridge in their        Tosh, lost his life during the     Ascot Landau and became the very      construction process.              first people to use the roadway.                                                                               After eighty years, Tyne Bridge    When it was first built, the          still provides a service to the    bridge was painted a distinctive      people of Newcastle and has        green colour, which was               arguably become the area’s most    specifically developed by the         recognisable landmark. The 531ft   paint manufacturers, J. Dampney       steel structure is now renowned    Co. of Gateshead. To commemorate      as one of the most remarkable      the millennium, the bridge was        feats of modern engineering and    once more painted in this superb      it continues to act as a proud     colour.                               reminder of Newcastle’s rich                                             industrial past. In fact, the      Middlesbrough-based contractors,      Tyne Bridge is so important to     Dorman Long, began working on the     the people of Tyneside, the        bridge in August 1925, although       artist Chris Burden recreated it   it was a dangerous job for the        in miniature form for the opening  workers. The brave workers were       exhibition at Gateshead’s          nicknamed 'spider men,' as they       innovative BALTIC art gallery in   had to balance 80ft over the          2002.                              river and worked without the use       About the Author: Author: Beverley Bukowski Website: http://www.escortnewcastlekirsten.co.uk Beverley Bukowski is a former model from Newcastle, UK. She is a keen amateur journalist and used to be a Newcastle escort. Published At: www.Isnare.com