Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, River Tyne

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Queen Elizabeth II Metro Bridge
Queen Elizabeth II bridge and River Tyne (geograph 3639295).jpg
The Queen Elizabeth II Metro Bridge in 2013
Coordinates 54°57′52″N1°36′50″W / 54.9645°N 1.6139°W / 54.9645; -1.6139
OS grid reference NZ247634
Carries Tyne and Wear Metro
Crosses River Tyne
Locale Tyneside
Official nameQueen Elizabeth II Bridge
Owner Nexus
Maintained by Nexus Rail
Characteristics
DesignSteel truss construction with fabricated box chords [1]
Total length352.7 m (1,157 ft) [1]
Width10.31 m (33.8 ft)
Longest span164.7 m (540 ft)
Clearance below 25 m (82 ft)
Rail characteristics
No. of tracks 2
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in)
Electrified 1500 V DC
History
Designer W. A. Fairhurst & Partners
Constructed by
Construction start1976 [1]
Construction endAugust 1978 [2]
Opened15 November 1981 (1981-11-15) [1]
Inaugurated
Location
Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, River Tyne
Railways between Newcastle and Gateshead
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Central Station
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Gateshead
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Gateshead Interchange
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Tyne and Wear Metro
to Gateshead Stadium

The Queen Elizabeth II Bridge carries the Tyne and Wear Metro between Newcastle upon Tyne and Gateshead over the River Tyne in North East England. The line is in tunnels on either side of the river and only emerges into open air to cross the bridge.

Contents

History

The bridge under construction in 1978 Metro Bridge nearing completion, 1978 (25760168724).jpg
The bridge under construction in 1978

The bridge was developed as part of the Tyne and Wear Metro system, for which it was purpose-built. It was designed by W. A. Fairhurst & Partners, and constructed by Cementation Construction Ltd. and the Cleveland Bridge & Engineering Company at a cost of £4.9 million. [1] The two sections of the bridge were built simultaneously from each bank and eventually met in the centre in August 1978. [3] It was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 6 November 1981, nine days before regular Metro service began. [1] It is similar to Ballachulish Bridge on the A82 which opened in 1975, which was also built by the Cleveland Bridge & Engineering Company.

It was one of two major bridges built specifically for the Tyne and Wear Metro, the other being the Byker Viaduct crossing the Ouseburn valley. [4]

Nocturne artwork

In 2006, Nexus, operators of the Metro, commissioned artist Nayan Kulkarni to install a huge artwork on the bridge. The artwork, Nocturne, sees the bridge painted two distinct tones of blue, while at night, 140 Lumiflood 36 LED lighting units [5] create an ever-changing pattern of colours based on photographs submitted by members of the public. [5]

Nocturne was completed and opened on 26 April 2007 [6] and means that all five main bridges across the Tyne between Gateshead and Newcastle have unique lighting schemes. However, as of 2021 the lighting system is not operational, with Nexus citing operational costs.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newcastle upon Tyne</span> City in England

Newcastle upon Tyne, or simply Newcastle, is a city and metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England. It is located on the River Tyne's northern bank, opposite Gateshead to the south. It is the most populous settlement in the Tyneside conurbation and North East England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gateshead</span> Town in Tyne and Wear, England

Gateshead is a town in the Gateshead Metropolitan Borough of Tyne and Wear, England. It is on the River Tyne's southern bank. The town's attractions include the twenty metre tall Angel of the North sculpture on the town's southern outskirts, The Glasshouse International Centre for Music and the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art. The town shares the Millennium Bridge, Tyne Bridge and multiple other bridges with Newcastle upon Tyne.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tyne and Wear Metro</span> Rapid-transit rail network in north-east England

The Tyne and Wear Metro is an overground and underground light rail rapid transit system serving Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, and the City of Sunderland. The network opened in stages from August 1980 and now serves a total of 60 stations, with two lines covering 77.5 km (48.2 mi) of track. The Metro can be accessed from a mixture of underground and above-ground stations. It has been described as the "first modern light rail system in the United Kingdom". The system is currently owned and operated by the Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive, thus is fully under public ownership and operation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tyne Bridge</span> Bridge in north east England

The Tyne Bridge is a through arch bridge over the River Tyne in North East England, linking Newcastle upon Tyne and Gateshead. The bridge was designed by the engineering firm Mott, Hay and Anderson, who later designed the Forth Road Bridge, and was built by Dorman Long and Co. of Middlesbrough. The bridge was officially opened on 10 October 1928 by King George V and has since become a defining symbol of Tyneside. It is ranked as the tenth tallest structure in Newcastle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gateshead Millennium Bridge</span> Pedestrian and cyclist tilt bridge between Newcastle and Gateshead spanning the River Tyne

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. Opened for public use in 2001, the award-winning structure was conceived and designed by architectural practice WilkinsonEyre and structural engineering firm Gifford. The bridge is sometimes called the 'Blinking Eye Bridge' or the 'Winking Eye Bridge' 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newcastle railway station</span> Mainline railway station in Newcastle upon Tyne, England

Newcastle station is a railway station in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. It is located on the East Coast Main Line, around 268 miles (432 km) north of London King's Cross. It is the primary national rail station serving Newcastle upon Tyne and is an interchange for local services provided by the Tyne and Wear Metro network whose Central Station is situated beneath the national rail station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Newcastle upon Tyne</span> Development of a city in North East England

The history of Newcastle upon Tyne dates back almost 2,000 years, during which it has been controlled by the Romans, the Angles and the Norsemen amongst others. Originally known by its Roman name Pons Aelius, the name "Newcastle" has been used since the Norman conquest of England. Due to its prime location on the River Tyne, the town developed greatly during the Middle Ages and it was to play a major role in the Industrial Revolution, being granted city status in 1882. Today, the city is a major retail, commercial and cultural centre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monument Metro station</span> Tyne and Wear Metro station in Newcastle upon Tyne

Monument is a Tyne and Wear Metro station, serving the Monument area of the city of Newcastle upon Tyne in Tyne and Wear, England. It joined the network on 15 November 1981, following the opening of the third phase of the network, between Haymarket and Heworth. The station is named after Grey's Monument, which stands directly above it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Haymarket Metro station</span> Tyne and Wear Metro station in Newcastle upon Tyne

Haymarket is a Tyne and Wear Metro station, serving the Haymarket area of the city of Newcastle upon Tyne in Tyne and Wear, England. It joined the network as a terminus station on 11 August 1980, following the opening of the first phase of the network, between Haymarket and Tynemouth via Four Lane Ends.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heworth Interchange</span> Tyne and Wear Metro and railway station in Gateshead

Heworth Interchange consists of a National Rail, Tyne and Wear Metro and bus station. It is located in the suburb of Heworth, Gateshead in Tyne and Wear, England, and opened on 5 November 1979 for rail and bus services. The station joined the Tyne and Wear Metro network around two years later, on 15 November 1981.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wallsend Metro station</span> Tyne and Wear Metro station in North Tyneside

Wallsend is a Tyne and Wear Metro station, serving the town of Wallsend, North Tyneside in Tyne and Wear, England. It joined the network on 14 November 1982, following the opening of the fourth phase of the network, between Tynemouth and St James via Wallsend.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quayside</span>

The Quayside is an area along the banks (quay) of the River Tyne in Newcastle upon Tyne and Gateshead in Tyne and Wear, North East England, United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gateshead Interchange</span> Tyne and Wear Metro station in Gateshead

Gateshead Interchange is a Tyne and Wear Metro station, serving the town of Gateshead in Tyne and Wear, England. It joined the network on 15 November 1981, following the opening of the third phase of the network, between Haymarket and Heworth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gateshead Stadium Metro station</span> Tyne and Wear Metro station in Gateshead

Gateshead Stadium is a Tyne and Wear Metro station, serving Gateshead International Stadium and the town of Gateshead in Tyne and Wear, England. It joined the network on 15 November 1981, following the opening of the third phase of the network, between Haymarket and Heworth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jesmond Metro station</span> Tyne and Wear Metro station in Newcastle upon Tyne

Jesmond is a Tyne and Wear Metro station, serving the suburb of Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne in Tyne and Wear, England. It joined the network on 11 August 1980, following the opening of the first phase of the network, between Haymarket and Tynemouth via Four Lane Ends.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Shields Interchange</span> Tyne and Wear Metro and bus interchange in South Tyneside

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Regent Centre Interchange</span> Tyne and Wear Metro station in Newcastle upon Tyne

Regent Centre is a Tyne and Wear Metro station in Zone B, serving the suburb of Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne. It joined the network on 10 May 1981, following the opening of the second phase of the network, between South Gosforth and Bank Foot.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newcastle City Centre</span> City centre of Newcastle upon Tyne, England

Newcastle City Centre is the city centre district of Newcastle upon Tyne, England. It is the historical heart of the city and serves as the main cultural and commercial centre of the North East England region. The city centre forms the core of the Tyneside conurbation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transport in Tyne and Wear</span> Overview of transport in Tyne and Wear

Tyne and Wear is a metropolitan area covering the cities of Newcastle upon Tyne and Sunderland, as well as North and South Tyneside, Gateshead and Washington.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Byker Viaduct</span> Railway bridge in Newcastle upon Tyne

The Byker Viaduct is a 2,674 ft (815 m) curved 'S' shaped light railway bridge, which carries the Tyne and Wear Metro over the River Ouseburn in Newcastle upon Tyne. It carries the line from Manors Metro station in the city centre to the west, to Byker Metro station in the area of Byker to the east, over the lower Ouseburn valley, with the river emptying into the north side of the River Tyne, to the south.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Structure Details: Queen Elizabeth II Bridge". Structural Images of the North East (SINE). Newcastle University. Archived from the original on 15 May 2011. Retrieved 18 June 2007.
  2. "Construction photograph of the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, Newcastle upon Tyne 1977". Newcastle City Council . Retrieved 18 June 2007.
  3. "Building Bridges". Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums. Archived from the original on 13 September 2014. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  4. "Meet Your Metro" 1978 information booklet produced by Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive.
  5. 1 2 "Nocturne Lighting Launched" (Press release). Lumivision Architectural Lighting. Retrieved 27 May 2007.
  6. "Nocturne – Britain's biggest new artwork is born" (Press release). Nexus. 26 April 2007. Archived from the original on 26 December 2007. Retrieved 27 April 2007.

Further reading

Next bridge upstream River Tyne Next bridge downstream
King Edward VII Bridge
East Coast Main Line
Queen Elizabeth II Bridge
Grid reference NZ248634
High Level Bridge
B1307 and Durham Coast Line