Middlesbrough transporter bridge set to reopen - BBC News

[whole diary]

[JayMac]

A tenuous 'other ways to travel' topic, but an interesting piece of industrial heritage nonetheless.

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge was built in 1911 across the River Tees

Middlesbrough's Transporter Bridge is set to reopen following a ^4m revamp.

Closed in August 2013, refurbishment of the 104-year-old structure was expected to last eight months.

However, a string of problems meant the reopening date was repeatedly put back and costs rose from ^3.1m to ^4m. The bridge re-opens on Monday.

A spokesman for Middlesbrough Council apologised for the set backs and thanked users for their "patience and understanding" during the works.

Middlesbrough Council said for the first four weeks, crossings for drivers and foot passengers will be free of charge.

Work on a new lift and visitor centre at the site are expected to be completed by May.

The Grade II-listed structure, which opened in 1911, is one of only six of its type still operating in the world and the only one in England.

And there was me thinking that Dennis Patterson, Neville Hope, Leonard 'Oz' Osbourne, Barry Taylor, Albert Moxey, Brian 'Bomber' Busbridge and Wyman Norris had dismantled it in 2002 and rebuilt it on an Indian reservation in Arizona. 

[Electric train]

I thought I saw a BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) TV^▸ (Thames Valley, or TeleVision, depending on context) programme a few years ago where this bridge was dismantled and relocated to Arizona   


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Auf Wiedersehen, Pet 

[Richard Fairhurst]

And, of course, there's one in FGW^▸ (First Great Western) territory, in Newport.

[Oxman]

Well, I tried to cross the bridge this afternoon, heading from Port Clarence to Middlesbrough, and it was closed! No explanation, just a standard road side notice at the bridge saying it was closed, and no one around to ask. Harumph!

[Chris from Nailsea]

Eh??  That's a bit off, as it was supposed to be reopening today?  The BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) story is still reporting it as "reopened on Monday morning."