Ovingham Bridge

Ovingham Bridge is a vehicle and pedestrian bridge across the River Tyne at Ovingham, Northumberland, England. Following a lengthy refurbishment programme by the owners Northumberland County Council, Ovingham Bridge re-opened to vehicles on Monday 5 September 2016.The bridge is a single track of reduced width for cars and light vans only. There is no footpath; pedestrians use the separate footbridge that runs alongside and with the same deck level. The center piers are set wider, allowing the deck to spread and two vehicles can pass, although this is rare. No traffic controls are installed; drivers observe the far end and wait or enter the bridge using a set of unwritten rules that usually function well.HistoryIt was built in 1883 by the Ovingham Bridge Company and replaced the earlier ferry. The steel tubes are marked Dorman Long Middlesbrough, the firm that designed and built the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Tyne Bridge. It was originally opened and operated as a toll bridge until 1945.The toll house has long since been demolished. It was located on the down stream side at the southern end of the bridge. In 1974 a footbridge was erected alongside, immediately downstream of the main bridge.In 2009 both bridges underwent a strengthening programme as they had been closed during the January floods of 2005. Gabions have been installed around the base of the pilings to prevent scour and river channel has been dredged to direct the main flow away from the piers. As the original piling depths are not recorded, brackets have been welded to the pilings and seismic pulse testing performed.

Tags: Landmark & Historical Place