Opened on 17th September, 2001, at a cost of £22M, the Millennium Bridge uses the world's first tilting mechanism to open and allow shipping to pass through. Spanning 126 meters and rising 50 meters above river level, the foundations are sunk 30 metres to anchor the bridge to the river bed. The bridge is purpose-built for cyclists and pedestrians and connects arts and cultural developments on both sides of the River Tyne.