Swinging bridge new castle

Concern was expressed about the delays to traffic with each passage of a ship. Asymmetrical bridges may place the pivot near one side of the channel. It had an innovative design, using hydraulic power to swing open and close. The first swing was made for shipping on 17 July when an Italian navy vessel, the Europa, passed through on its way to Elswick works. Opened in , it was necessary to replace the old Georgian Bridge in almost the same location which was low level and prevented larger vessels from moving up river or above bridge as it was called. In the bridge was operated using a three shift system by a team of 15 men under the control of the Master of the Bridge. The Tyne Improvement Commission TIC was created in to initiate beneficial changes, regulate and control the Tyne within its tidal limit, allowing towns other than Newcastle to share in the prosperity brought by the river and its increasing industrialisation.

The controls were mounted in the cupola over the roadway and the machinery on the central pier. Work started on the new bridge in with W G Armstrong and Co. The temporary bridge opened in Armstrong's factories at Elswick were held back due to the impossibility of ships reaching there.