Debate looks at siting of new Tyne bridge
Jun 11 2008 by Tony Henderson, The Journal
River bus service idea floated
FAST commuter boats could operate from the mouth of the Tyne to Newcastle and Gateshead, says the study.
It reproduces plans from bus company Stagecoach for the Tynefast service, which would be integrated with bus services and park and ride facilities.
The idea is for 27-metre boats carrying 144 passengers to operate from pontoons at North and South Shields, with a stop at a Tyne Tunnel park and ride.
Other pontoons would be at The Sage in Gateshead and Newcastle Quayside. The boats would travel at up to 25 knots, with two vessels providing a service every half hour and three boats every 20 minutes.
Improving life for pedestrians
”MORE of the centres of Newcastle and Gateshead should be freed from traffic, the study advocates.
It proposes six new car parks, either multi-storey or underground, which would fringe Newcastle and Gateshead.
This would cut traffic levels on bridges other than the Redheugh.
The High Level Bridge is seen as a high level pedestrian route on the lower deck.
“With no traffic, this is a pier with two ends – great as a route and as a platform to take in the views up and own the river.”
A series of zig zagging light footbridges are also suggested to improve access in the fast- developing Lower Ouseburn Valley.
Mauretania returns as landmark
A REPLICA of the liner Mauretania is proposed as a landmark feature on the River Tyne.
It would serve as a conference centre and hotel and also double as a bridge with walkways linking ship to shore as well as being a celebration of Tyneside industrial achievement.
The location would be on the site of the former King's Meadow island, which was dredged away to allow Lord Armstrong to launch vessels from his Elswick shipyard.
The ship-bridge would link the MetroCentre area and Newcastle Business Park.
Designed and built at Wallsend with Parsons steam turbines, the Mauretania left the Tyne in 1907 and held the Blue Riband for the fastest crossing of the Atlantic.
The idea is part of the “bridgescaping” exercise which allowed designers to consider the potential of large redevelopment plans.
Andrew Dixon, chief executive of the NewcastleGateshead Initiative, said: “The ideas coming out of the bridgescaping initiative are similar to the cityscaping plans from 20 years ago.
“Then the city came up with ideas which although not all were seen through, they did underpin a lot of the changes to the city which we see today.
“We want to encourage architects to have stimulated ideas, to be bold with Newcastle and Gateshead’s future.
“These visions may be just a vision of what could be possible, but they are important to our future and we should never rule out any idea, no matter how big.”
