Editing Gateshead Millennium Bridge (section)

=== Opening ===
Gateshead Council originally announced that the bridge would be open in September 2000, but it was not completed until September the following year.{{Sfn|White|Fortune|2012|p=219}} The first tilt took place on 28 June 2001 to 36,000 onlookers.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|title=Gateshead Millennium Bridge facts|url=https://www.gateshead.gov.uk/article/4596/Gateshead-Millennium-Bridge-facts|access-date=8 February 2022|website=[[Gateshead Council]]}}</ref> It was opened to the public on 17 September 2001 to a crowd of thousands.<ref name="BBC-opening">{{cite news|date=2001-01-17|title=Tilting bridge opens eye to the world|work=[[BBC News]]|publisher=[[BBC]]|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1545986.stm|access-date=2008-09-24|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The barrier lifted at 2{{nbsp}}pm to allow the first public crossing, and the first people to cross received a commemorative medal gift from the Council.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Morton|first=David|date=17 September 2016|title=On this day 15 years ago: Gateshead's Millennium Bridge opened to the public|work=[[Chronicle Live]]|url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/history/day-15-years-ago-millennium-11895144|access-date=8 February 2022}}</ref> The bridge was dedicated by Queen [[Elizabeth II]] on 7 May 2002, during her [[Golden Jubilee of Elizabeth II|Golden Jubilee]] tour.<ref>{{cite news|date=2002-05-07|title=Streaker mars royal tour|work=[[BBC News]]|publisher=[[BBC]]|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/1972813.stm|access-date=2008-05-04|df=dmy-all}}</ref> A commemorative plaque unveiled by the Queen reads: "Gateshead Millennium Bridge. Opened by Her Majesty The Queen on 7th May 2002." Before a formal dinner at the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, the Queen said "Today I see the tangible signs of the determination of all those within this region to create a new future. There have been so many personal acts of kindness, especially over the last two months, now I have the chance to express my gratitude to the people of the North East."<ref>{{Cite news|last=Morton|first=David|date=7 May 2017|title=When the Millennium Bridge over the River Tyne was officially opened|work=[[Chronicle Live]]|url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/history/millennium-bridge-over-river-tyne-12994172|access-date=8 February 2022}}</ref>