The Gateshead Millennium Bridge or the Blinking Eye as it is know in the North East is the first opening bridge to be built across the River Tyne for more than one hundred years and it has attracted worldwide attention because of its unique design.
The world’s first tilting bridge is the latest addition to the Tyne’s famous collection of bridges, which give the area one of the most instantly recognisable skylines in Europe.
The Bridge provides a footpath and cycle way across the Tyne linking Newcastle Quayside to Gateshead Quays and the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art development; it is the final piece in the jigsaw of what will soon be one square mile of visitor attractions on both sides of the Tyne.
One of the world’s largest floating cranes dramatically lowered the fully constructed bridge into place on Monday, 20th November 2000 and after on site work was completed it was opened to the public at 3.00pm on Monday, 17th September 2001.
Quick Tips:
Best Way To Get Around:
By Road Take the A1, leaving at the A184 sign posted Gateshead town centre and follow the signs. By Rail To Newcastle Central Station and then follow the signs for Quayside, it’s about a ten-minute walk from the railway station. By Metro or Bus To Gateshead Interchange and then follow the signs to Gateshead Quays, again about a ten-minute walk. By Bicycle The Bridge is on the National Cycle Network’s cross-country C2C (Sea to Sea) route.