A huge refurbishment of the Tyne Bridge that could last up to four years has moved a step closer to commencing.
The much-needed restoration of the iconic crossing is due to start later this year, after a long-running saga over the funding to rescue the bridge from its dilapidated state. Official planning consent has now been granted to undertake a vast revamp of the Grade II* listed structure, which will celebrate its 100th birthday in 2028, paving the way for work to begin.
A £41.4m repairs plan, mostly funded by the Government, for both the Tyne Bridge and the Central Motorway was finally announced last summer, after years of campaigning from the region’s leaders to secure the cash. However, inspections have since revealed that the rusted bridge is in an even worse condition than had been feared and that its renovation could take four years rather than the originally-planned two.
