Earlier this month I was reminded that 25 years ago I watched and photographed residents crossing the River Tyne on the new ‘blinking’ Millennium Bridge which links the town of Gateshead and the neighbouring city of Newcastle. By that time I had witnessed it being carefully lowered into place and also a test of it being raised earlier in 2001.
Apparently the bridge is a pedestrian and cyclist tilt bridge which spans the river from the arts quarter on the south bank in Gateshead and Newcastle’s Quayside area on the north bank. Early on it was dubbed the ‘Blinking Eye Bridge’ or the ‘Winking Eye Bridge’ due to its shape and its tilting method.
BLINKING BRIDGE… The bridge between Gateshead and Newcastle in the north-east of England was raised in June 2001… Picture: Ian Duncan. 
BLINKING BRIDGE… The bridge between Gateshead and Newcastle in the north-east of England was raised in June 2001… Picture: Ian Duncan. 
BLINKING BRIDGE… The bridge between Gateshead and Newcastle in the north-east of England was raised in June 2001… Picture: Ian Duncan. 
BLINKING BRIDGE… The bridge between Gateshead and Newcastle in the north-east of England in September 2001 when pedestrians and cyclists were given the opportunity to cross the River Tyne… Picture: Ian Duncan. 
BLINKING BRIDGE… The bridge between Gateshead and Newcastle in the north-east of England in September 2001 when pedestrians and cyclists were given the opportunity to cross the River Tyne… Picture: Ian Duncan. 
BLINKING BRIDGE… The bridge between Gateshead and Newcastle in the north-east of England in July 2002… Picture: Ian Duncan. 
BLINKING BRIDGE… The bridge between Gateshead and Newcastle in the north-east of England in July 2002… Picture: Ian Duncan. 
BLINKING BRIDGE… The bridge between Gateshead and Newcastle in the north-east of England in July 2002… Picture: Ian Duncan. 
BLINKING BRIDGE… The bridge between Gateshead and Newcastle in the north-east of England in August 2002… Picture: Ian Duncan. 
BLINKING BRIDGE… The bridge between Gateshead and Newcastle in the north-east of England in September 2004… Picture: Ian Duncan. 
BLINKING BRIDGE… The bridge between Gateshead and Newcastle in the north-east of England in September 2004… Picture: Ian Duncan. 
BLINKING BRIDGE… The bridge between Gateshead and Newcastle in the north-east of England in February 2006… Picture: Ian Duncan. 
BLINKING BRIDGE… The bridge between Gateshead and Newcastle in the north-east of England in February 2006… Picture: Ian Duncan. 
BLINKING BRIDGE… The bridge between Gateshead and Newcastle in the north-east of England in February 2006… Picture: Ian Duncan. 
BLINKING BRIDGE… The bridge between Gateshead and Newcastle in the north-east of England in September 2009… Picture: Ian Duncan. 
BLINKING BRIDGE… The bridge between Gateshead and Newcastle in the north-east of England in September 2009… Picture: Ian Duncan.
Needless to say I have photographed the bridge on a number of occasions over the years and I even carry my personal business cards in a case which I bought from the gift shop way back in 2002.
Apparently a competition was held by Gateshead Council in 1996 to design a new bridge to link Gateshead to Newcastle and it would be the first opening bridge to be built on the River Tyne in more than 100 years.
Gateshead Council originally announced that the bridge would be open in September 2000, but unfortunately it was not completed until September 2001. The first tilt took place on 28 June 2001 to 36,000 onlookers and it was opened to the public on 17 September 17, 2001, to a crowd of thousands. Also the barrier lifted at 2pm to allow the first public crossing, and the first people to cross received a commemorative medal gift from the council.
It was later dedicated by Queen Elizabeth on 7 May the following year during her Golden Jubilee tour. It has since been considered as a significant local landmark and tourist attraction and it is one of several cultural landmarks on Gateshead Quays, including Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art and the then Sage Gateshead entertainment venue which has since been renamed as The Glasshouse.
