NEWPORT’s iconic transporter bridge, which has dominated the city’s skyline since 1906, has won an award by the world’s biggest travel site.

Online review website TripAdvisor has given the bridge a Bravo Badge after it was rated excellent by travellers.

The Newport Transporter Bridge, which was built at a cost of £98,000, is just one of six operational transporter bridges in the world.

It was the brainchild of engineer Robert Haynes who saw it as the perfect solution to the expansion of industry to the east of the river Usk with a workforce mainly based to the west, and who was inspired by Rouen’s transporter bridge in France.

In 2008 the Newport landmark received a £1.225 million investment by the Welsh Government, Cadw and Newport City Council in 2008 to recognise its cultural and historical significance.

The bridge has already been given the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence, which is awarded to the top 10 percent of attractions in the world.

Now the site has awarded the bridge the Bravo Badge, received when the business received a certain number of excellent ratings by members of the public.

Councillor John Richards, Newport City Council’s cabinet member for regeneration and development, called the award a “tremendous accolade”.

He said: “For over a century the transporter bridge has been a source of pride for the residents of Newport and has fascinated and enthralled visitors to the city.

“But beyond its architecture and wonderful feat of engineering, it stands as a reminder to the people of Newport of the innovation of their forefathers who were keen to ensure that the city could meet the demands of industry.

“Visitors to Newport today only need to look around at the new developments taking place to see that this is city on the move - ready to take its place once more at the heart of commerce.”

The Newport Transporter Bridge is now open for its summer season between 10am and 5pm Wednesday to Sunday. Last admission is 4pm with the last ferry crossing at 4.30pm.