In North Tyneside, the new £3 million Metro bridge has now been successfully installed. The bridge will take Metro services across Tanners Bank in North Shields. The 70 tonne cast iron bridge was installed on the 20th July and was secured with new concrete abutments.

The new bridge replaced the 160 year old bridge which repeatedly needed repairs and maintenance work on it. The work took place during a major line closure between St James and Tynemouth which is expected to reopen on the 30th July.

The project which allowed for the replacement of the bridge was funded by a £2.7 million grant from the Department for Transport’s Highways Challenge Fund, £300,000 from the Metro Asset Renewal Programme, and £103,000 from North Tyneside Council.

Project Manager, Stephen Psallidas, said: “I am pleased to say the big task of lifting the new Tanners Bank bridge into place went well and it is now in place.

“The bridge has two decks, one for each Metro line, each weighing 70 tines, and both of them are now installed.

“It was a precision process to lower bridge decks of that size into the exact place so that they can carry Metro services on what is a key route between Newcastle and North Tyneside.

“The works will continue on the site as the teams put the tracks and overhead lines back in place ahead of the planned re-opening of the line on July 30.”