It carries the line from Manors Metro station in the city centre to the west, to Byker Metro station in the area of Byker to the east, over the lower Ouseburn valley, with the river emptying into the north side of the River Tyne, to the south.

[2][3] The Byker Viaduct was built specifically to carry the then-planned Tyne and Wear Metro across the Ouseburn Valley, permitting a direct connection between the centre of Newcastle and the east end of the city and the coastal areas beyond.

[3] Initial work was focused on the erection of the reinforced concrete piers, the highest of which being roughly 70 meters above the ground.

[6] A total of 253 concrete segments, each one weighing 40 tonnes, were cast on-site prior to being lifted into place using a crane and secured using an epoxy resin and steel cables.

[6] The track comprised continuously welded rails laid upon reinforced concrete slabs with discreet rubberised pads in between and secured using Pandrol clips; deployed by a slipform paver, these had a specified tolerance of 3mm in 3m.