High street blues Changes in heart of town

Second award for town’s shining light
THE River Tees’ stunning new bridge has scooped its second award.


The Infinity Bridge in Stockton, due to open in spectacular fashion tomorrow, won the North East Constructing Excellence Awards ‘Project of the Year’ category at the weekend.

The 180m long footbridge, made from 450 tonnes of Corus steel, will now represent the North-east at the finals of the awards which are designed to showcase excellence in the construction industry.

Infinity has already taken the top prize in the ICE Robert Stephenson Award 2009 with judges describing it as “imaginatively engineered” acting as “a catalyst for regeneration and a landmark much appreciated by the community.”

Tomorrow’s official launch from 8pm to 10pm will see the bridge lit, with free-runners scaling its arches and setting off flares.

People across the area are invited to witness the spectacle with big screens installed to ensure everyone has a view of the shows and fireworks.

Following the launch, a host of events will be held across Stockton in the first ever Infinity Spring Festival.

On Friday, Stockton Central Library will hold a free programme of talks, exhibitions and displays celebrating Stockton’s heritage of bridge and ship building.
Also in the library will be a Tales from the Tees exhibition using archive photographs of the river.

Saturday will see a packed programme of street theatre and community performances in Stockton Town Centre as well as the renowned Tees Regatta.

There will be performances from street theatre companies from 11am until 5pm. Arts and crafts workshops will be held in The Shambles from 11am until 4pm.

And at Stockton Central Library storytelling sessions exploring the river will be held at 11am, 1pm and 3pm.

On Friday and Saturday, there will also be a programme of music running at Arc and The Georgian Theatre.

For more information on the Infinity Spring Festival, log on to www.infinityfestival.org.uk

Cllr Bob Cook, Stockton Council’s Cabinet member for transport and regeneration, said: “The official launch of Infinity Bridge will be a fantastic way to start our first ever Infinity Spring Festival.