Main contractor sought for £117m Sunderland bridge

By Will Hurst2011-12-19T06:00:00+00:00

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New Wear Crossing by architect Stephen Spence and engineer Techniker wins £82.5m funding bid from DfT

Sunderland council will shortly tender for a main contractor to build its New Wear Crossing project after winning funding worth £82.5m from the Department for Transport (DfT).

The £117m road bridge scheme, by local architect Stephen Spence and structural engineer Techniker, is designed to help support further city regeneration and improve access for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians between the A19 and central Sunderland.

The council’s funding bid was submitted in September after the government said that up to £630m was being made available for local authority projects that can help economic growth and provide jobs.

The planned crossing is from Castletown on the northern banks of the River Wear to Pallion on the south and, subject to the outcome of a public inquiry on compulsory purchase orders, the council hopes construction work will beginning later in 2012 and be completed in autumn 2015.

Spence said: “Throughout the project to date, what has been constant is the city council’s unwavering support and continued backing for this ambitious project.

“Both for Sunderland and the whole region we can now look forward to bringing the vision to reality.

“On a personal level it has always been an ambition to put something positive back into the area where I grew up. I now look forward to being part of the team which will deliver this new landmark over the coming years.”

Matthew Wells, managing director of Techniker, said: “We are delighted this major new landmark has finally got the go-ahead.

“Our team has worked tirelessly since 2006 to analyse every aspect of this structure, its manufacture, construction and maintenance.

“Once completed we hope it will bring considerable benefits to the communal, cultural and commercial interests of Sunderland.”

Sunderland’s latest funding bid included revised cost estimates that improved the configuration and performance of the scheme and a cost reduction of £16m.