Citation
(2005), "Superior aesthetic protection for award winning bridge –Gateshead Millennium Bridge wins its 20th award", Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, Vol. 52 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/acmm.2005.12852bab.027
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2005, Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Superior aesthetic protection for award winning bridge –Gateshead Millennium Bridge wins its 20th award
Superior aesthetic protection for award winning bridge –Gateshead Millennium Bridge wins its 20th award
The Gateshead Millennium Bridge, coated by International Protective Coatings during 2000, has won its 20th award more than 4 years on. With a total coated surface area of 12,000m2 (129,100ft) the curving steel bridge, now one of the centrepieces on the cultural and artistic “Golden Mile” around the river Tyne, has been awarded the distinguished Balthasar Neumann Prize.
The award, given every two years by the League of German Master Builders, Architects and Engineers and German building magazine Deutsche Bauzeitung, brings the prize total for the project to 20, making it one of the most recognised and acknowledged structures in Europe.
The bridge has been coated with Interzone 505, a high build epoxy primer/intermediate with glass flake for extra durability. A finish coat of Interthane 990 re-enforces the bridges requirement for a long term, durable and aesthetically pleasing finish when applied over a high performance anti- corrosive system.
State-of-the-art lighting units help to highlight the coatings in a magnificent fashion, depicting the structure in millions of different colours and producing a stunning reflection of the bridge in the river.
Applicators Watson Steel Ltd used the Interzone and Interthane products to provide maximum protection to the innovative pivoting structure, coatings which have helped to propel the bridge to its first 20 awards.
Plate 2
The Gateshead Millennium Bridge
Interesting Facts
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The Gateshead Millennium Bridge already features on a British Royal Mail stamp (Plate 2).
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The bridge, weighing more than 850 tonnes, enough steel to make 64 double decker buses.
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It has a total span of 413ft (126m) wide – but the pivoting design demands that it is manufactured precisely to a tolerance of just 1/8th of an inch (3mm).
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The design is so energy efficient it costs just £3.60 each time it opens.
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Litter dropped on the bridge automatically rolls into special traps at each end every time it opens.