There are few local landmarks that can match the Tees Transporter Bridge for size.
Dominating the skyline for miles around, the blue structure is as tall as five double decker buses and as long as three football pitches.
The heft of the bridge is more than matched by its uniqueness. Rather than having passengers walk or drive across, the grade II listed landmark transports them in “gondolas” suspended beneath the main expanse.
Unfortunately, since 2019 the people of Middlesbrough and Stockton-On-Tees have not been able to use the world’s longest transporter bridge as safety concerns saw the structure closed to the public.
A year later a report revealed the closure was sparked by a whistleblower who called out the “dangerous state” of the bridge and highlighted its “substantially out of date” wheels, ropes and anchor points.
Passengers may no longer be passing across the Tees Transporter’s structure, but in the years since its closure the deterioration has sadly continued.
In January this year a damning report from engineering consultants Atkins concluded the bridge had got so bad it was at risk of “catastrophic collapse” and was now classified “an immediate risk structure”.
According to Dr Sergio Rodriguez-Trejo, a senior lecturer at Teesside University, the danger of Middlesbrough and Stockton losing their most recognisable landmark has had a huge impact on the region.
“Middlesbrough wouldn’t be Middlesbrough without that icon,” he told the Express.
“But, due to lack of maintenance, the structure is now on the brink of collapsing and so they need to put a plan in place to invest [£30 million] to repair the structure because it actually goes with the identity of the place.
“If a city like Middlesbrough loses this type of icon tied to its identity that can be something that really affects the overall thinking of the area.”
He added that even the periods when infrastructure icons, like the Transporter Bridge, are out of action can affect public attitudes.
“Having an infrastructure icon that is functional is important. If they are not accomplishing that function and don’t work as they are intended that’s where actually the problems happen,” he added.
Thankfully local authorities have heeded the warnings about the perilous state of the bridge and committed funds to address the issues.
“The Tees Valley Combined Authority cabinet recently considered its transport investment plans, with a commitment to invest £30 million to restore the bridge,” a spokesperson for Middlesbrough Council explained.
“However, the draft survey report by engineering specialists Atkins provisionally estimates the cost of returning the Transporter to operational condition at around £67 million.
“With regard to bridge repairs generally, we have completed a programme of inspections to identify necessary repairs, and have secured capital investment allocated from within the council’s medium-term investment plan to carry out the necessary repairs in addition to the sum we allocate from the annual City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements grant funding.
“This is around £1.2m per year (excluding the pothole fund of a further £1.06m) to cover all highway maintenance including carriageways/footways/verges/flooding/street lighting/bridges and structures/drainage.”
The spokesperson said the local authority – which manages the bridge with neighbouring council Stockton – expected to receive a final structural assessment of the bridge in “the near future”, as well as “a report covering options, potential costs and the safety of the bridge will then be prepared for consideration by the council’s executive”.
“A programme of work lasting a number of years is likely to be necessary, and updates will be provided in due course,” they added.
Do you have a local iconic structure under threat? Contact zak.garnerpurkis@reachplc.com
