Lifting the 1,200 Ton Gateshead Millennium Bridge!

The amazing story of how the 1,200 ton Gateshead Millennium Bridge was fabricated and lifted into place! I worked on this project at the steel fabricator/erector firm, Watson Steel, for the full year leading up to the big lift day. Enjoy!
Link to our technical paper “Gateshead Millennium Bridge, UK: fabrication, assembly and erection” by Kevan Butterworth, David Carr, and Paul Kassabian:
www.icevirtuallibrary.com/doi...
I also reference my KZbin videos on cables and arches which can be found here:
Cables Part 1: • How Do Cables Work? (w...
Cables Part 2: • How Cables Work - With...
Arches Part 1: • How Do Arches Work? (w...
Arches Part 2: • How Arches Work! (with...
Various videos of the Gateshead Millennium Bridge opening and closing:
kzbin.info?searc...
Project Credits for Gateshead Millennium Bridge:
Client: Gateshead City Council
Structural Engineer: Gifford and Partners (now part of Ramboll)
Architect: Chris Wilkinson Architects (now WilknsonEyre Architects)
Contractors: Harbour & General (now VolkerStevin) with Watson Steel (now part of Severfield)
I'm Paul Kassabian. I'm a structural engineer and a Principal at SGH in Boston, MA. I taught graduate students at MIT for nine years and currently teach on/off at Harvard's Graduate School of Design (GSD). These are videos based on my structural design projects and years of teaching structures to students.

[@EO.studios]

As a crane operator that just found your videos im loving them

[@GronnocGames]

hello, new here! this is why i love youtube university. knowledgeable, humble, and simply explained. please keep making videos.

[@Kpizzle5970]

If I’m here watching this video from start to finish undoubtedly these videos will get much more attention. I have no base knowledge but from start to finish the unpacking of the project was easy to follow.

[@PaulKassabian]

Thanks!

[@rabinsonrai2905]

Dear Professor, Just keep on making these videos. Even though you will get comparitably less views, just keep on making them. I think there is less structural engineering videos on YT and these videos are so much insightful and inspiring that I can watch your videos all day.

[@PaulKassabian]

Thanks!

[@ronlokk]

That is the coolest thing I have seen in a long time. Thank you for the intriguing explanation. Most people will never appreciate the thought for the design concept that went into this project. Bravo!

[@PaulKassabian]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@MikeOchtman]

I walked across it a few times in late 2006 and watched it tilt to let ships through. I remember thinking of was an engineering marvel and now I'm not disappointed! Thanks for that!

[@PaulKassabian]

You're welcome!

[@StereoSpace]

Fascinating solution I would never have thought of.

[@sicks6six]

I watched this sail up from the Walker ship yard where it was made and lifted into position.This video does not relay it's size. It is enormous. When dropped into the locating pins they only 3mm of play (1.05mm each side, about as thick as ten playing cards) Interesting fact >> it is so well balanced when it is opened it uses the same amount of electricity as a 6volt battery. The oblong ones with two round connections. They're usually in little radios or doorbells. I thought it might spoil the view of the ikonic Tyne Bridge but it enhances it. Great engineering job and much better than the London millennium bridge. The wibbly wobbly one lol 😂

[@sferg9582]

I appreciated your brief description of the little green box supporting your scale model rigging. Most people wouldn't realize what that was.

[@magicturtleh.l9070]

You wouldn't believe how useful this video was... coming from someone preparing a powerpoint regarding this bridge. Very comprehensive and insightful, big thanks!

[@PaulKassabian]

Great to hear!

[@petervanderwaart1138]

"There is no force, however great, that can pull a thread, however fine, into a horizontal line that is accurately straight." - accidental verse from a physics book.

[@oxcart19]

Wow. That was so interesting. Thank you for the behind-the-scenes photos showing structural elements. Your explanation of how all the parts came together was understandable for a non-engineer like me. Nice work!

[@PaulKassabian]

Glad it was helpful!

[@nicolasramirez3944]

This bridge was featured on the back cover of the Strength of Materials text I used in school, and it was an awesome source of inspiration. No way you worked on this Paul, that's awesome! Thanks for sharing this. Also always appreciate torsion talk

[@PaulKassabian]

Wow - that's great! It was a fantastic project to work on...more coming soon too!

[@GeordieJimny]

A most impressive landmark in our region and my favourite section of a bike weekend ride with the lads. There’s always one of us snapping pics even though we’ve done it 100 times 👌 A beautiful thing to see, especially when it’s in action. Thanks for helping making it a reality Paul

[@PaulKassabian]

Dude - and thanks to you too for sending your video!

[@GeordieJimny]

Anytime! Look forward to more videos mate

[@dido1803]

Really great project information!! Beautiful bridge.

[@PaulKassabian]

Many thanks!

[@TomTurner704]

That is an excellent and inspiring project. Kudos! The design is elegant in that it does the most with a minimal amount of material while displaying to all it's structure sans façade. I'm curious about the balance between the two arches. Was it in balance when it was coming up the river on the crane? When in the down position, sitting on the pads, it must be somewhat imbalanced to get that four point contact. Where in the rotation of the bridge is it actually balanced? Where is the highest level of imbalance which the hydraulics must support it? My mind's eye envisions the hydraulics failing and letting it fall into the Tyne backwards. What a splash!

[@PaulKassabian]

Great questions! Overall the bridge always "wants to" tip with the curved deck going downwards. So for the carry that's why we had some cables going to the front of the deck. When it's in normal position, there are bearings under the deck in front of the rotating hinges. And when it's in the lifted position, the hydraulic rams can hold the bridge including wind load and keep it safe. Hope that helps!

[@abdullahadel9716]

Thanks for your help.

[@PaulKassabian]

You're welcome!

[@mcb187]

Really cool video! Always wondered how this bridge was built, it looks incredible! Really neat that you picked it up and moved it. Glad you had more success than the folks in Florida. Also, 10:24 hahahaha, 35mm film. Good stuff. I use 35mm and 120 film just for fun because I really like the process of taking the picture and then developing it. Really slows down the flow of photography.

[@rhamel1717]

Thanks Paul for this great work on all your video presentations; It would be nice to elaborate on the equilibrium of this cantilever walkway suspended from the cables attached to the inner cord. Is it the shape of the arch that prevents this structure from twisting outwardly? 😮 You are one of the rare architect-engineer that takes the time to explain the « beautiful shape-strength blend » of structural marvel. Thanks again,

[@PaulKassabian]

Thanks Richard. I'll try with words here...it's because of both the curved tubular deck (as noted in the video) AND the positioning of the cable on the inside. As you realize, the deck "wants to" rotate down and the cable provides an equal+opposite reaction back from its horizontal component. Free body diagram helps here. If you need more info/image, email me and I'll send you a diagram link!

[@lauraneloisil9040]

Bonjour, nous sommes actuellement en première année Génie Civil à Saint Nazaire (France). Nous avons un oral a réaliser sur ce pont. Votre vidéo nous a beaucoup aider pour comprendre le concept du pont et son fonctionnement. Serait-il possible d'avoir accès aux photos et aux plans. Laurane :)

[@PaulKassabian]

and thanks for your email...sent! Good luck with your presentation!

[@paolomesseca8679]

very scenographic it's all I am able to say

[@calvarybuilders5689]

All that work and can't cross with a car or motorcycle 🤔 woke england

[@cageordie]

They don't need a car or motorcycle bridge. The Swing Bridge is just a few hundred yards up the river and there isn't a place for cars or motorcycles to go on the south side. This is just a decorative bridge, it isn't needed for anything. One of the reasons all the other bridges are high is that the river is in a fairly steep sided valley. Like most people calling others 'woke' it's just an indication of your ignorance and stupidity.

[@oneoldgit]

Did you bother to check the surrounding access for motor vehicles before making your ignorant ‘woke’ comment?

[@Sirdickymint]

I was the bridgemaster for 18 years.. Just retired

[@petsatcom]

great job

[@errishavsingh3767]

Dear Professor I am from India 🇮🇳 and try to learn basics of structure in applied engineering through your content. So please accept my request on facebook