The UK’s iconic bridge is looking new again after a much-needed £5.2m paint job | UK | News

A British icon bridge is looking its best again after a £5.2 million refurbishment. Work on the Grade I-listed High Level Bridge over the River Tyne included strengthening, sandblasting and repainting beams supporting the roads and pedestrian decks.

The historic crossing was designed by railway pioneer Robert Stephenson and was the world’s first double-decker road and rail bridge when it opened by Queen Victoria on September 28, 1849.

At 175 years old, the crossing requires regular maintenance, with Network Rail and AmcoGiffen carrying out work which has also included resurfacing the carriageway and sealing the road deck.

Much of the work took place at night to minimise disruption to road users, although train services were not affected, according to Network Rail.

Sean Ellerby, project manager, said: “It has been a huge job to secure the future of this world-first bridge and important rail and road link between Gateshead and Newcastle.”

The bridge was so named because it was the first to cross the Tyne from the top of one bank to the other, making it the “High Level” bridge, as previous bridges crossed at low level.

It is the oldest of the seven historic bridges that cross the Tyne. The road bridge was built 96 feet (29 m) and the railway bridge 120 feet (37 m) above the river’s high water mark.

An Act to build the bridge was secured by the Newcastle & Berwick Railway in 1845. It stipulated that the company should build a combined road and rail bridge over the Tyne between Newcastle and Gateshead, to be completed within four years.

The bridge was designed by Stephenson from detailed drawings made under the watchful eye of Thomas E Harrison. To avoid making the bridge too wide and to keep costs down, it was decided to run the railway above rather than alongside the road.

It is a tied arch, or bowstring, bridge with the main structural elements made of cast and wrought iron. The route’s six spans are each 125 feet (38 m) long. Cast iron arches support the railway, while wrought iron ties support the road deck.

The latest renovation involved the use of 3,300 liters of paint; 283 beams were painted across the bridge’s six spans and 460 tons of scaffolding were erected so workers could paint beneath the road deck.

Chris Pennock, AmcoGiffen’s director of structures, said: “This significant investment has revitalised the 175-year-old landmark and will preserve its structural integrity and historical significance for years to come.”

Councillor John McElroy, Gateshead Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, said: “It’s great news that the upgrade is now complete.

“Its historical significance to the region makes it all the more important that we continue to care for the bridge and ensure it remains fit for purpose for generations to come.”