Tyne Bridge restoration marks one year on site anniversary

Works to restore the iconic Tyne Bridge to its former glory has marked a major milestone of completing one year on site.

(L-R) Andy Radcliffe, Esh’s Chief Executive, Cllr Karen Kilgour, Leader of Newcastle City Council and Cllr Martin Gannon, Leader of Gateshead Council.

It is exactly 12 months since the multi-million-pound project to fully restore the Grade II* listed structure got underway, with Esh Construction delivering the restoration programme on behalf of Newcastle and Gateshead councils.

Within that time period, work has progressed well, and despite additional repairs being identified, the four-year programme remains on schedule to be completed in time for the bridge’s centenary.

Work began around the Gateshead tower in April 2024, which saw nearly 100 years of paint grit blasted, then the steel was repaired and repainted in its distinctive Hollybush green which was first unveiled last October. The same sequence of restoration work is now taking place around the Newcastle tower, which will see 11 coats of paint removed, before being restored and repainted. To protect the public and the environment during this phase, the works area needs to be fully encapsulated and is expected to be complete by Spring 2026.

Structural repairs and interventions on the bridge’s hangers - located within the eastern footway - are also complete, and have since moved on to the western footway, where engineers again need to work in confined spaces of 1.5 metres to clean out the area before grit blasting, repairs and repainting can take place. Once the repairs are complete on the western footway, installation of the scaffold around the screen plates and parapet will begin. Over 9 tonnes of dirt, rust and guano were removed from the eastern footway and sent to specialist contractors for safe disposal.

The underdeck of the Tyne Bridge has also been fully scaffolded by specialist scaffolders – it measures 100 metres long by 11 metres wide and is 84 ft above the River Tyne. This element of the programme was brought forward, making efficiencies, and allows engineers to carry out close-up inspections of the bridge before restoration work starts on this underdeck. This section of scaffolding across the river span (underdeck, screen plates and parapet sections) is expected to be fully removed by Summer 2026.

As well as maintaining a major cross river route, the restoration programme also aims to have a lasting impact on the local area, with social value being a key component of the programme. To date, the forecasted spend on the project in the North East region is £22.8m, this includes £5.75m with Newcastle & Gateshead subcontractors and suppliers, and £1.3m with Newcastle & Gateshead SME’s.

Within the local community, so far:

• Over 1,000 days have been worked on site by apprentices and trainees

• 483 days of work experience has been provided for Newcastle and Gateshead residents

• Over 2,300 students have been engaged in employability, careers and STEM sessions across Newcastle and Gateshead

Councillor Karen Kilgour, Leader of Newcastle City Council said; “We’re incredibly proud to be restoring our iconic Tyne Bridge.

“We know how much the Tyne Bridge means to everyone in the region so it’s great to have this first year under our belt and people can see for themselves the difference it is making.

“As well as restoring an icon to its former glory, I am pleased that the restoration will also have a positive impact on our local communities, through skills development, community engagement and both employing and procuring locally. I am particularly proud that so many young people can start their careers on one of the biggest projects in the North East, inspiring the next generations of engineers.”

Councillor Martin Gannon, Leader of Gateshead Council, said: “It’s wonderful to see the completed section of steelwork up above Hillgate, now repaired and repainted.

“This is a project we can all take great pride in – both for the engineering expertise and hard work going into the restoration, and for the positive impact the project has on our communities.

“We look forward to further achievements - and the day of completion ready for the centenary.”

Andy Radcliffe, Chief Executive of Esh Construction, said: “The first restored section of the bridge on the Gateshead quayside offers a glimpse into what this project will deliver for the region. Alongside the construction, we have made strides in the first year to create a legacy within the community, from making the bridge’s rich history accessible to the deaf community with a bespoke virtual reality programme, to delivering meaningful work placements for those looking to take their first steps into the industry. This project is poised to deliver a real and lasting impact for years to come."

Thorough investigations have outlined that more than 1,200 repairs need to be carried out to preserve the landmark for future generations. This involves steel, concrete, stonework and masonry repairs, drainage improvements, bridge deck waterproofing, resurfacing, parapet protection and bridge joint replacement, as well as a full paint job.

Over 180 miles of scaffolding tubes will be used throughout the project – if aid end to end, the tubes would reach from Newcastle to Dundee. The weight of the scaffold components totals more than 13,000 tonnes – equivalent to six London Eyes – therefore due to loading constraints of the bridge, it must be installed in 20 different phases.

The four-year programme is expected to be complete in Summer 2028, ahead of the bridge’s centenary in October 2028.

The Tyne Bridge restoration is funded by the UK Government, as well as monies from both Newcastle City Council and Gateshead Council.

To view behind the scenes imagery taken throughout the first year on site, visit the new gallery.