Tyne Bridges (Newcastle) > Reviews > Millennium Bridge quite an eye opener

Author's product rating:   

Advantages:	The world's first rotating, winking bridge
Disadvantages:	Not open for another six months

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

At the end of November 2000, the Newcastle/Gateshead Millennium Eye bridge was floated up the Tyne to it's final position between the Pitcher and Piano bar on Newcastle Quayside and the former Baltic Flour Mills as part of the Gateshead Quays developments. The movement of the bridge was a bit of an attraction, with the world's second largest floating crane towering over all around it as it moved from Wallsend to the centre of Newcastle.

This is the first step in a massive project to rejuvenate the southern bank of the Tyne, which will see the conversion of the Baltic Flour Mills and the creation of a massive music centre and concert hall, just slightly further up the hill.

The bridge itself is a thing of beauty, with it's arc matching that of the famous Tyne Bridge (which was built as a prototype of the Sydney Harbour Bridge), along with a gracefully curving foot/cycle path. These two curves will rotate upwards, like an upper eye-lid to let boats pass underneath, with the reflection in the water forming the lower lid and giving the impression of an eye winking.

Perhaps it's a little early to start flocking to the Quayside to see the new bridge alone, but if you're in the area it's worth a look, and in a few years time this will certainly be an area worth a trip.