Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge

The Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge is a steel crossing over the River Tees in England that carries pedestrians and vehicles in a hanging gondola between both banks. The gondola travels along a tall steel frame while the waterway stays clear for ships below.

Sir William Arrol & Co built the crossing between 1910 and 1911 to move workers to shipyards on the north bank. A Zeppelin dropped a bomb nearby in 1916, but the structure has remained in place ever since.

The structure appears on Royal Mail First Class stamps and represents industrial engineering excellence with its Institution of Mechanical Engineers Heritage Plaque recognition.

The crossing has been closed to visitors since 2019 because the steel frame needs extensive repair work. You can still view it from both riverbanks, where you get a sense of its scale and construction.

The gondola runs along a span of around 1,200 feet (360 meters), making this the longest working transporter bridge left anywhere in the world. Granite and concrete form the foundations on both banks, supporting the tall steel towers above.

Location: Middlesbrough

Location: Billingham

Official opening: October 17, 1911

Made from material: steel, concrete, granite

GPS coordinates: 54.58440,-1.22801

Latest update: December 17, 2025 10:27