Pyeroy's paint work to light up Tyne crossing

Citation

(2007), "Pyeroy's paint work to light up Tyne crossing", Pigment & Resin Technology, Vol. 36 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/prt.2007.12936aad.004

Pyeroy's paint work to light up Tyne crossing

Pyeroy's paint work to light up Tyne crossing

The latest bridge re-painting contract won by construction services company Pyeroy Ltd will form part of an innovative new scheme to create a giant illuminated artwork spanning the river Tyne. As part of the repainting of the 25-year old Queen Elizabeth II Metro bridge linking Newcastle and Gateshead, passenger transport operators Nexus have developed plans to transform the 360m structure into an ever changing colour and light installation. The so- called Nocturne project will use state of the art low power LED lighting with a new colour scheme to transform the bridge into a new illuminated landmark structure. Under the direction of project consultants W.A. Fairhurst & Partners, who were also the original bridge designers, Pyeroy will be providing all scaffolding, access and containment systems to repaint the steelwork in a special two tone colour scheme designed to transform the way light passes through the girders. High performance acrylic polysiloxane coatings will be used for strong colour retention, with different sections and sides of the bridge being painted in contrasting colours to complement the unique visual effects that will be created by the new lighting scheme. Computer control will enable the lighting to change as the tide below rises and falls, creating an endless stream of shades and colours. In total some 33,000m² of steelwork will be painted during the 27-week contract. As part of the scaffolding services to be provided by Pyeroy, conventional access systems will be used for the re-painting of the top sections of the bridge and access to the underside will be provided by means of a purpose-built suspended cradle. When complete it is estimated that the finished work will be seen by more than eight million people using the neighbouring King Edward VII railway bridge every year, as well as millions more road users and visitors to the adjacent Newcastle Gateshead Quayside area. The Pyeroy Group provides a range of construction services comprising specialist marine and industrial coatings divisions, as well as asbestos removal, scaffolding divisions and decorative painting activities.