Member Article

Gateshead firm to transform iconic Tees bridge

A Gateshead business has been commissioned to give an iconic Teesside bridge a facelift.

Pyeroy Group, which is headquartered in Gateshead but has a divisional office in Billingham, has been handed a three-month project to transform the Newport Bridge, which links Middlesbrough and Stockton over the River Tees.

The 80 year-old Grade II structure will be painted red and silver, changing from its current colour of green, to celebrate its construction and engineering features.

Access platforms will begin to be installed on Monday (28th July) ready for the bridge to be cleaned and prepared ahead of painting.

Newport Bridge was opened in 1934 as a “lifting bridge” which lifts horizontally between two towers supported on wire ropes at each end of the span.

Teesside iron and steel works, Dorman Long, fabricated the steel for the bridge.

Originally 12 men were employed to man the bridge around the clock and during the 1940s and 50s and average of 800 vessels per year would pass beneath it.

Stockton Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Transport, Councillor Mike Smith, said: “The bridge was last repainted more than 15 years ago and is due a repaint.

“It is a listed structure of considerable importance to the highways network as it serves a busy road and is used as the diversion route if the A19 Tees Viaduct needs to be closed.

“The repainting is necessary to protect the steelwork from damage.

“It is a spectacular structure which was built on Teesside so I am pleased that we have the opportunity to mark its construction and engineering features in its 80th anniversary year.”

The A1032 which runs across it will be closed to vehicles from Monday 28th July until Sunday 7th September to allow the majority of the painting to take place.

Access for cyclists and pedestrians will be maintained by keeping at least one footpath open during the road closure. The finishing touches will be made by 7th November.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Martin Walker .