Queen Elizabeth II Metro Bridge, Railway bridge in Newcastle upon Tyne, England
The Queen Elizabeth II Metro Bridge is a railway bridge spanning 352.7 meters across the River Tyne, connecting Newcastle with Gateshead. The structure carries two continuously welded rail tracks supported by two steel ring piers and reinforced concrete abutments on each side.
Construction began in 1976, with two sections built simultaneously from each bank and meeting in the center in August 1978. This project cost 4.9 million pounds and was a major step in developing the region's public transport infrastructure.
The bridge features Nocturne, an art installation with two shades of blue paint and LED lights that create patterns based on public photographs. This light show transforms the structure after dark into a visual artwork highlighting the connection between both cities.
The bridge carries the Tyne and Wear Metro between Newcastle and Gateshead, with the metro line running through tunnels on both river sides. You can cross the bridge while riding the metro or view it from the riverside areas below.
The structure incorporates approximately 4,000 tonnes of fabricated steelwork, making it one of the heaviest railway bridges of its era. This massive amount of steel allowed the bridge to carry train traffic without support structures in the river itself.
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