Good progress continues on the project to transform one of Newport’s most loved icons, the Transporter Bridge.
Just before Christmas, the contractors working on the new state-of-the-art visitor centre, John Perkins Construction, officially handed that site back to the council.
The experience at the visitor centre tells the story of the bridge and the site it sits on through the personal accounts of those who worked on its construction, as well as from those who used it to cross the river every day.
The visitor centre is currently undergoing some internal finishing touches, which is being carried out by The Creative Core, an interpretation design company which specialises in creating visitor experiences for museums, heritage, libraries and culture.
The internal work includes the installation of interpretation panels, the interactive walkway, which will allow everyone to experience the walk across the top of the bridge, and signage.
It is hoped that these will be completed this month. Some landscaping work will also be ongoing over the next few months.
Funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Welsh government, Newport City Council, UK government and the Wolfson Foundation, the transformation project is an important piece of work and combines the visitor centre build with restoration work taking place on the bridge itself.
The restoration work will ensure that the Grade 1 listed bridge will remain an iconic part of the Newport skyline, and a tribute to our city’s industrial heritage for generations to come.
While the bridge restoration work continues, the visitor centre will begin to welcome community groups and others on organised visits. The Friends of the Newport Transporter Bridge will be the first community group to visit, when they hold their annual general meeting at the centre next month.
Full opening of the centre will be available when the bridge restoration works are complete.
There has been a lot of interest already in the centre, and we will accommodate as many groups as we can but reiterate that the site remains a construction site while the bridge refurbishment works are completed.
Councillor Emma Corten, the council’s cabinet member for culture and communications told us…..
“The new visitor centre is looking fabulous, and we cannot wait to start showing groups around once the finishing touches have been applied.
The history of the Transporter Bridge is deeply woven into the history of Newport, our industry and our people. Its story is our story, it is a part of who we are and where we have come from.
Preserving it will ensure that story lives on for generations to come.”
We’ll continue to share more updates as the work nears completion and you can also see more of what’s happening by following the bridge on social media @NptBridge on X and Facebook, and @NptBridge1906 on Instagram.
