Tyne Bridge needs extra 1,000 repairs, report says

Despite the estimated repairs doubling, council bosses say the project will be completed on time

The number of repairs needed to restore the Tyne Bridge to its former glory has more than doubled since works began, engineers have reported.

Teams working to refurbish the Grade II* listed crossing say they have encountered a "significantly increased" number of problems due to it being in a more dilapidated condition than previously thought.

The landmark has been undergoing a revamp since 2023, with the number of repairs estimated at about 1,000. However, the predicted total has since reached more than 2,000.

Newcastle City Council said the scale of the issues "could not be detected" before contractors Esh began their work.

When restoration work began, sections on the Gateshead side of the bridge were the first to be restored.

Work then moved to the opposite side of the river, with all repairs focusing on steelwork, concrete, masonry, waterproofing and drainage improvements, as well as a full repaint.

A report, published ahead of a meeting of the councils' Joint Bridges Committee, said the extra repairs could not be detected prior to the access.

Thousands of litres of paint have been used so far

Twenty months into the project, Newcastle City Council says it is "confident the majority of repairs have been identified" and that their costs will be covered by funding already secured.

A spokesperson said: "As with any project of this scale it is not unusual for additional work to be required and, while we believe we have identified most issues, we will continue to monitor the project as the restoration progresses."

According to a report, the restoration is expected be fully refurbished in time for its 100th anniversary in 2028.

Funding stands at £38.9m, made up of grant money from the Department for Transport (DfT), about £5m from the joint councils, and £6.3m from North East Mayor Kim McGuinness.

A £9m set of repairs to Newcastle's Central Motorway are also part of the original funding, which are not affected by the growing cost of the bridge works, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

In November, it was announced that 25% of the bridge restoration had been completed, with work finished on sections around the two towers on either side of the River Tyne.

Over the next couple of years, the repairs will move gradually up the Tyne Bridge's famous archway.