Roads minister and Conservative MP for Hexham Guy Opperman writes for ChronicleLive on the day that the Government finally confirms £35 million of funding for the Tyne Bridge's repairs
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We’re investing £35 million to protect the iconic Tyne Bridge.
We all recognise its arch. Whether you’re looking up from Newcastle or Gateshead, you can’t fail to miss the engineering prowess, architectural splendour, and historical significance of the Tyne Bridge
Since King George V cut the ribbon in 1928, the Tyne Bridge has connected two of our great northern cities. To this day, it occupies that same majestic perch over the river. But if we ignored the flaking paintwork and trailing tailbacks then how long would it be until the Tyne Bridge was unfit for Royalty, unfit for purpose, and unfit for anyone?
Local communities have long pointed out the need for a full-scale upgrade and, with a £35m investment, that’s exactly what this Government will give it. Not only because it’s a matter of pride, nor because it’s simply a case of preserving the history of a Grade II Listed structure. This funding is not about nostalgia but hard minded practicality. In short, this investment is about the future.
This is part of the Government’s Network North plan which will improve local transport across the North East, with today’s announcement following our record £544 million in funding for a long-term plan to resurface local roads across the North East. The Tyne Bridge is more than a practical lifeline connecting people and goods. It’s a vital connection between Newcastle and Gateshead, and it deserves better.
When the iron is rusting, when the link between two cities cannot accommodate the right vehicles and when traffic jams clog your journey, then it is local people who lose out.
That’s why the Government will restore this architectural icon to its former glory, expanding access for vehicles, reducing congestion and improving traffic flow. This is alongside essential upgrades we’re making to the A167 Central Motorway – the first significant maintenance work on that vital bypass in around 50 years. All this matters not just for lives and livelihoods, but to help grow the economy. It’s why, when the local councils presented their final plans at the end of last year, we wasted no time in approving them – ensuring drivers can see the benefits as quickly as possible.
Reduced congestion and increased air quality makes our cities better places to live, work and do business. If we can improve journeys for local residents, we can take the stress out of that visit to the GP or the trip to do the weekly shop.
But the very possibility of a better and brighter future is only within reach because the Government has a plan to improve local transport across the North East. Like our decision to restore the Tyne Bridge, the Prime Minister’s decision to reallocate £36 billion in HS2 funding into local transport projects was the right one. Doing so now allows us to improve everyday journeys for more people, in more places, more quickly than the full HS2 project would have done.
Network North will serve hundreds of places and tens of millions of people each day, instead of one train line serving people in the North West travelling to London. Since it was launched in October, we’ve already announced the first £150 million of a £1 billion plan to improve local bus services and, more recently, set out £8.3 billion to improve roads and fill potholes – with £544 million earmarked for the North East alone.
That means we can answer the calls of local people, restore the Tyne Bridge and invest in the communities who need it most.
Guy Opperman: 'The Tyne Bridge is a vital connection and it deserves better'
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02.02.2024
Roads minister and Conservative MP for Hexham Guy Opperman writes for ChronicleLive on the day that the Government finally confirms £35 million of funding for the Tyne Bridge's repairs
Sign up for free to get the latest North East news and updates delivered straight to your inbox
We have more newsletters
Sign up for free to get the latest North East news and updates delivered straight to your inbox
We have more newsletters
We’re investing £35 million to protect the iconic Tyne Bridge.
We all recognise its arch. Whether you’re looking up from Newcastle or Gateshead, you can’t fail to miss the engineering prowess, architectural splendour, and historical significance of the Tyne Bridge
Since King George V cut the ribbon in 1928, the Tyne Bridge has connected two of our great northern cities. To this day, it occupies that same majestic perch over the river. But if we ignored the flaking paintwork and trailing........
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