Bridge repairs 'finally going in right direction'

DESPITE 150TH BIRTHDAY DISAPPOINTMENT

- By DANIEL HOLLAND Local democracy reporter

The Swing Bridge, reflected in a very calm River Tyne in Newcastle.

THE restoration of Newcastle's Swing Bridge is "finally moving in the right direction" despite it looking set to remain broken for its 150th anniversary, an MP believes.

The Victorian landmark has not successfully swung open since 2019 and it emerged last week that efforts to repair its turning mechanism look highly unlikely to bear fruit before the bridge's milestone date next summer.

Newcastle Central and West MP Dame Chi Onwurah has been leading calls to fix the William Armstrong-designed river crossing, which has opened around 300,000 times in its history to allow larger boats to travel up the Tyne and was the world's largest swinging bridge when it opened in 1876.

While bosses last week faced accusations of "neglecting" a structure renowned as an industrial marvel of the Victorian age, the Labour MP says she is now hopeful of progress.