The restoration of the iconic Tyne Bridge will be completed in time for the structure’s centenary year after a significant funding gap was plugged. Officials at the North East Combined Authority have green-lit the allocation of more than £6 million to ensure the work is completed
The cash was agreed by the combined authority’s cabinet on Tuesday, allocated from the £1.85 billion investment in the region’s transport from central Government. Ministers have faced significant pressure in recent months over the missing funding that had been promised for the restoration, which began in April 2024.
An initial £35.2 million was provided by the Department for Transport, but former Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also pledged to stump up another £6.2 million that would cover the full costs of upgrading the grade II* listed crossing and the Central Motorway. Labour placed the award of the additional money under review after the General Election, leading to fears among local leaders that the funding would be cut.
Image: LDRS
However, in June, the Local Democracy Reporting Service revealed that NECA was planning to utilise a portion of the huge investment into the region’s transport to restore the beloved bridge. Tuesday’s meeting saw the cabinet agree to bring the funding forward due to the urgency of the works.
Speaking at the cabinet meeting in Dunston, Mayor Kim McGuinness said: “We are allocating some of the £18.6 billion that will transform the region’s transport. That includes £6.3 million to restore the iconic Tyne Bridge in time for the centenary .
“I’m so pleased that we have now secured that funding. There was no way that anybody around this table was ever giving up until we did.
“It would be completely unacceptable to not have the bridge up to standard when we are celebrating that landmark for our region.”
A report presented to the cabinet explained that the money would be “brought forward” with agreement from the Chancellor and the Department for Transport. This is in order to meet the 2028 deadline.
Deputy leader of Newcastle City Council, Coun Alex Hay, added: “It would be remiss of me as the representative from Newcastle not to mention how overjoyed we are to receive the additional funding needed to restore the Tyne Bridge in time for its centenary in 2028.
“I am delighted to have a mayor and a Government who recognise the significance of our iconic bridge and want to see it restored to its former glory. I want to place on record our thanks to all who supported us; lobbied Government alongside Kim and colleagues at Newcastle and Gateshead councils for this investment.”
