Ovingham Bridge

Ovingham Bridges are a pair of side-by-side vehicle and pedestrian bridges across the River Tyne linking Ovingham and Prudhoe in Northumberland, England. Following a lengthy refurbishment programme by Northumberland County Council, Ovingham Bridge re-opened to vehicles on 5 September 2016.

Ovingham Bridge
Ovingham Bridge
Coordinates54.9669°N 1.8668°W / 54.9669; -1.8668
OS grid referenceNZ086636
Carries
CrossesRiver Tyne
LocaleNorthumberland
OwnerNorthumberland County Council
Maintained byNorthumberland County Council
Preceded byBywell Bridge
Followed byWylam Railway Bridge
Characteristics
DesignLattice Beam
Pier constructionSteel
Total length150 m (490 ft)
No. of spans8
Piers in water2
No. of lanesSingle-track road with central passing place
History
Fabrication byDorman Long & Co
Construction start1883
Construction end1883
Opened20 December 1883 (1883-12-20)
Rebuilt2014–2016
ReplacesFerry
Location

The vehicle 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 centre 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.

History

It was built in 1883 by the Ovingham Bridge Company and replaced the earlier ferry.[1] 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.[2]

The toll house has long since been demolished. It was located on the downstream side at the southern end of the bridge.[3] 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 were installed around the base of the pilings to prevent scour, and the river channel was dredged to direct the main flow away from the piers. As the original piling depths were not recorded, brackets were welded to the pilings and seismic pulse testing performed.

On 30 June 2014, the vehicle bridge was closed for extensive maintenance projected to take around 12 months. A small closing ceremony saw the last vehicle to cross – a horse and cart – as a reminder of the first vehicle to cross when it was originally opened. During May and June 2014, access trackways were built to the underside of both ends of the bridges, and extensive steel scaffolding installed below and to both sides of the bridge structure. The scaffolds even incorporated wooden boarded cutwaters to protect the scaffold if the river should flood. Lattice long span 'unit beams' were fitted to all spans except the North and South. Concrete pads were cast below the bridge end spans adjacent to the approach roads so that the spans could be jacked up. This was to allow extensive modification of the area where the steel bridge rests on the stone abutment. New concrete structures were cast as pier caps and compliant pads installed to allow the entire span to expand and contract with seasonal temperature changes. The bridge deck including cross beams were completely replaced. The footbridge was also due to be closed and have new decking. Pedestrians were redirected to use the main bridge whilst this was underway.[4]

References
  1. Fraser, Constance; Emsley, Kenneth (1989). Northumbria. Chichester: Phillimore & Co. ISBN 0-85033-723-2.
  2. "Ovingham Bridge". Bridges on the Tyne. Retrieved 29 March 2009.
  3. Atkinson, Frank (2001). The Story of Ovingham on Tyne: A Village History. Northern Books. p. Picture 97. ISBN 0-9535730-1-X.
  4. Daniel, Brian (5 June 2014). "Ovingham Bridge to close for 12 months for refurbishment". The Journal. Newcastle upon Tyne: Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
Next bridge upstream River Tyne Next bridge downstream
Bywell Bridge
 B6309 		 Ovingham Bridges
Grid reference NZ086636		 Wylam Railway Bridge
Formerly North Wylam loop, now  72 
Next road bridge upstream River Tyne Next road bridge downstream
Bywell Bridge
 B6309 		 Ovingham Bridges
Grid reference NZ086636		 Wylam Bridge
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