Something for the Weekend
The Tyne Cyclist and Pedestrian Tunnel, situated beneath the River Tyne in Tyne & Wear, England, links Howdon and Jarrow. Unveiled in 1951 as part of the Festival of Britain, it marked a milestone as Britain’s inaugural purpose-built cycling tunnel, constructed at a cost of £833,000. Initially accommodating 20,000 daily users, the tunnel comprises twin passages running parallel to each other.
One passage, measuring 3.2 meters (10 feet 6 inches) in diameter, caters to pedestrians, while the other, larger at 3.7 meters (12 feet 2 inches) in diameter, serves cyclists. Both tunnels extend 270 meters (884 feet) in length and are positioned 12 meters (40 feet) below the riverbed at their lowest point. These tunnels, now more than 60 years old, hold Grade II listed status, underscoring their historical significance.
Renamed the Tyne Pedestrian and Cycle Tunnel, the infrastructure underwent a substantial renovation, reopening on 7 August 2019. Managed by the North East Joint Transport Committee, the tunnel operates toll-free, facilitating passage for pedestrians and cyclists alike. Accessible via two escalators and a lift housed in surface buildings at each end, the tunnels feature Waygood-Otis escalators boasting 306 wooden steps each, preserving the original models from 1951. During their inception, these escalators ranked as the tallest single-rise escalators in the UK, exemplifying technological prowess and engineering innovation.
