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Millennium Bridge |
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Millennium Bridge |
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May 7th 2002 - Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II with officially open the Millennium Bridge
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Gateshead Millennium Bridge Official Opening Programme 7 May 2002 |
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10.15am |
Entertainment starts with the stilt walking percussion group Boneshaker mingling with the crowds on South Shore Road. |
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10.45am |
A programme of musical entertainment starts and will continue until Her Majesty The Queen arrives. |
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11.00-11.45am |
River events including displays by the Sea Cadets, Red Seal Rescue, The Royal Marine Reserve and a sail past of vessels representing the historic pride of the Tyne. This includes Tyne Leisure Line boats carrying Gateshead and Newcastle school children. |
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12 noon |
Her Majesty The Queen arrives. The National Anthem led by Felling Male Voice Choir. |
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12.05pm |
H M The Queen operates the controls to tilt Gateshead Millennium Bridge. H M The Queen crosses the bridge to Newcastle and is joined by His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh. The Royal party move to the centre of the bridge. |
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12.20pm |
H M The Queen officially opens Gateshead Millennium Bridge. |
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12.25pm |
The Royal party return to Baltic Square and walk to BALTIC The Centre for Contemporary Art. |
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12.30pm |
Children from Gateshead and Newcastle join hands across Gateshead Millennium Bridge to unite the two communities. |
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12.35pm |
The band and choirs will close with the regional favourite "Blaydon Races." |
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12.45pm |
Street Theatre entertainment continues throughout the afternoon in Baltic Square and South Shore Road. |
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2.35pm |
The Royal Party leave BALTIC |
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Musical entertainment provided by Felling Brass Band, Felling Male Voice Choir and Boneshaker Internationally famous street theatre group Bedlam Oz will also be performing. There will be a similar programme of music and entertainment on Newcastle Quayside. Throughout the morning The Gateshead Millennium Bridge will tilt several times |
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The Gateshead Millennium Bridge will be closed to pedestrians and cyclists from 6am and will not re-open until 2.40pm |
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September 17th 2001 - The Opening of the Millennium Bridge
LIVE WEBCAM - CLICK HERE
Four days of events will mark the public opening of the world’s first rotating bridge. Events on Gateshead Millennium Bridge start on Friday 14 September at 8pm with the first public showing of its high-tech, multi-coloured lighting system. This will be followed by a weekend of unique live musical performances - staged by music north, the producing and presenting arm of Music Centre Gateshead.
On Monday, September 17th 2001, pedestrians and cyclists can cross the River Tyne between Gateshead and Newcastle using the new bridge, which is supported with a lottery grant of £9.7 million through the Millennium Commission.
The event programme is:
Friday, 14 September, 8 pm — Live world
premiere of a new piece of music composed specially for the opening and first
public switch on of the bridge’s high-tech computerised lighting system.
Saturday, 15 September, 7.15 pm — BBC Proms in the Park in the square next to the bridge, linked live to the national event in the Royal Albert Hall.
Sunday, 16 September, 6.30 pm — Jazz, rock, folk, world music and entertainers celebrate on Baltic Square.More information on the Musical Events is available at the Music Centre Gateshead Site
Monday, 17 September
• 12.30 pm — Media briefing with representatives of Gateshead Council,
the Millennium Commission and the designers and builders.
• 1 pm — Civic party cross bridge to Newcastle and return.
• 1.40 pm — Bridge tilts open and closed to signal opening to the public
• 2 pm — Pedestrians and cyclists are invited to cross the bridge
History was made today when the world's first rotating bridge was lifted into place on the Tyne. The Asian Hercules II, the world's second large barge of it's kind, and the size of a football pitch, placed the 850 tonne Millennium Bridge in place. The bridge, opening in Summer 2001, is designed to open and close like an eye, with an arch span of 105 metres. This pedestrian and cycle bridge will link developments on both sides of the river.
These photographs were taken as the bridge was being manouvred into position at approximately 11a.m. They may take a few minutes to download.
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November 20th 2000 |
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The sections of the bridge were made in Bolton, Lancashire and assembled at the AMEC yard in Wallsend. Tomorrow, November 21st, the 150 tonne steel transportation strut will be removed and reversed back down the Tyne.
