There have been bridges across the River Tyne since AD120, when the Romans built the first link between Gateshead and Newcastle.

Emperor Hadrian ordered the building of the first bridge - Pons Aelius - on the site of the present Swing Bridge.

With the new bridge, there are now seven crossings of the central Gateshead and Newcastle area of the Tyne.

Tyne Bridge: Opened in 1928 by King George V, and the fourth structure known as the Tyne Bridge, it is based on Sydney's Harbour Bridge.

Newcastle Swing Bridge: The largest opening bridge of its kind when it opened, in 1876. It has opened more than 250,000 times.

High Level Bridge: Designed by the engineer Robert Stephenson, it has just celebrated its 150th birthday. The design, with trains on top and road underneath, opened up Newcastle to the railway.

Redheugh Bridge: There have been three Redheugh Bridges on this site, dating back to 1871. The present one, built in 1984, was opened by Princess Diana.

Metro Bridge: Designed for the underground train system and opened in 1981 by the Queen.

King Edward Bridge: The second rail crossing over the Tyne. It was opened by King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, in 1906.