newcastlecentric

The view along the Tyne from the High Level Bridge is amongst the favourites of Newcastle and Gateshead residents. The sight of the bridge from within, despite millions of pounds spent on it, is an entirely different matter.

Since the bridge re-opened on 2nd June, taggers have been busily undoing the last three years of restoration. Now, less than three weeks after it was officially re-opened, graffiti litters the internal walls.

Since the road and paths were closed to the public in 2005 and the bridge smothered in polythene sheeting, over 75,000 litres of paint have been applied to the bridge to restore it to its original colour, chosen to blend the metalwork in with the stone pillars supporting it.

Within days of the official opening the first tags started appearing on the stone pillars. Three weeks later graffiti now covers large areas of the iron supports.

Work began on the bridge seven years ago and £40 million has been spent on the Victorian structure, designed by Robert Stephenson and first opened in 1849.

Because of structural concerns and to incorporate safety barriers, the bridge is now only open to buses and taxis and only in a southbound direction.

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