The spectacular tilting of Gateshead’s world-famous Millennium Bridge is set to remain a far rarer sight than it once was, as the crossing is hit by budget cuts.
Council bosses have announced plans to abolish the daily openings of the iconic structure that usually delight visitors to the Quayside during the summer months, though these have not taken place since before the Covid pandemic. It became the world’s first tilting bridge when it opened in 2001 and its stunning motion saw it nicknamed the ‘Blinking Eye’.
But a financial crisis at Gateshead Council means that the innovative pedestrian and cyclist bridge will be only opened as needed to allow boats to pass under it – and not to entertain tourists. Draft budget proposals considered by the authority’s cabinet this week include a £10,000 saving from cutting the number of tilts.
