The Tees Transporter Bridge is an iconic landmark of Middlesbrough and a remnant of the region’s industrial past. This magnificent structure is instantly recognisable: a bright blue dragonfly straddling the River Tees.
After two years of living in the North East and glimpsing it on my daily commute, I thought it was finally time to pay the Transporter Bridge a visit. You’d be surprised by how few locals have actually seen it up close. A couple of friends visiting one weekend gave me the perfect excuse to go.
About the Transporter Bridge
The Transporter Bridge was built in 1911 to allow industrial workers greater ease of access between Middlesbrough and Port Clarence. It’s the longest transporter bridge in the world and one of only a handful left (although probably for good reason!).
At first glance, it’s not obvious how the bridge works. There are two towers, one on each riverbank, with a high connecting section running across the top. This is to allow tall ships to pass through. Although you can walk across the top, the main method of crossing the bridge is via the gondola (not the Venetian kind). This is a moving platform suspended by steel cables, which travels along the central beam using a pulley system. The gondola is vulnerable to strong winds, so isn’t safe to run in very adverse weather.
Nowadays, the bridge is a site of historical interest rather than of practical use, although I was surprised to learn that it still has a significant number of regular users. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can even bungee jump or abseil from the top…
Transporter Bridge Guided Tour
It was windy and overcast during our visit, i.e. a typical summer’s day in Middlesbrough. We originally intended to simply do a brief return trip on the gondola. However, after chatting to the driver during the crossing, we decided to upgrade to a guided tour which also allowed access to the top of the bridge.
We managed to time our visit well, as a tour was starting soon. After a brief wait, our enthusiastic tour guide met us outside the visitor centre. Since the other person who’d pre-booked didn’t turn up, we ended up having a private tour to ourselves.
Unfortunately, the glass viewing lift was undergoing repairs when we visited, so we had to take the stairs – all 210 steps. The staircase is built into one of the bridge’s steel legs. And, whilst structurally very sound, the metal outer frame didn’t afford much protection from the elements. It was very windy! The steps also became steeper towards the top, making climbing a little challenging. However, it was worth it for the excellent views. We ascended at a leisurely pace with plenty of rest stops disguised as photo opportunities.
The upper walkway, hovering at 49 metres above the River Tees, was reassuringly stable, so I could walk across it without much trepidation. In the past, there would probably have been a second set of stairs on the other side of the bridge for descent, but that was no longer there.
We admired the sweeping panoramic views of the Tees Valley as our guide regaled us with anecdotes and interesting facts about the Bridge, as well as the history of Teesside. One particularly vertigo-inducing story was of several drunken locals who allegedly climbed to the very top of the bridge and walked on the metal beams above the walkway!
Mick, our guide, happened to be particularly chatty, and we ended up staying at the top for 2 hours! In the time we were there, another group with a different guide came and went in less than half an hour…
We finished off the tour with a visit to the engine room and visitor centre back on ground level.
Facts About the Transporter Bridge
- The Bridge has not always been its current iconic shade of blue. It underwent numerous makeovers in the past, and was even painted red at one point
- The Bridge needs to be repainted every 7-10 years, requiring 10,000 litres of paint, and some fearless painters not afraid of heights
- On occasion, when they’ve forgotten to lock the gondola in place overnight, it has been found blown out onto the middle of the river the next morning
- The ‘Middle’ in ‘Middlesbrough’ refers to the fact that it was a halfway point between Durham Cathedral and Whitby Abbey, two important religious sites
Essential Information
Bridge Crossing: 70p for pedestrians, £1.50 for cars, journey time is 2 minutes, crossings every 15 minutes
Guided Tours: £5.50 per person (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday), booking in advance usually required
Visitor Centre: free entry
All payments are by cash only
Visit www.teestransporterbridge.com for updated operating hours and booking information.
Update in January 2024: I visited the Transporter Bridge in June 2018. Unfortunately, the bridge was closed in 2019 due to structural concerns. They are still deciding the fate of the iconic bridge, although it’s looking slightly more hopeful. Until then, the Tees Transporter Bridge will unfortunately remain closed.
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