Tyne Bridge works on track for 2028 centenary

THE Tyne Bridge remains on track to be restored to its former glory by the time of its 100th anniversary celebrations, as engineers prepare for another big year in its ongoing refurbishment.

- DANIEL HOLLAND

The past 12 months have seen the huge repair project take significant strides forward - most notably after a final £6million of funding was secured to complete the works before the bridge’s October 2028 centenary.

And locals can expect to see more big changes on the famous landmark through 2026. Steelwork repairs and repainting will be completed on the parapet wall on the western side of the bridge and pedestrians will start using the western footway again in late January, as work switches over to the eastern site.

Scaffolding is currently being dismantled around the bridge's Newcastle tower, revealing fully restored sections of the grade II* listed crossing, and the same will then happen on the underside of the main bridge deck. In autumn 2026, new scaffolding will then be erected above the main carriageway used by tens of thousands of vehicles crossing the Tyne every day - creating a protection deck that will pave the way for contractors Esh to move their repairs up the bridge’s arch through 2027.