New Wear footbridge arrives in Sunderland

A cornerstone of Sunderland’s regeneration programme has arrived at the city’s port.

A barge carrying the first two steel sections of Sunderland’s new footbridge arrived at Port of Sunderland on August 4.

The shipment marked the latest milestone in the construction of the new city landmark, which is expected to open to the public next summer, connecting the former Vaux site to Sheepfolds, the former stables.

The two steel sections, spanning 83 metres, left a fabrication yard in Belgium on August 1 and arrived in the city on Sunday afternoon.

The two parts will be shipped upriver to the site of the new Wear footbridge.

Lead contractor VolkerStevin will then lift the parts into place and connect them to the North Pier and North Landing sections, as the bridge begins to take shape.

Mike Rimmer, VolkerStevin senior project manager said: “This is a significant milestone for the project team and I’m excited to see the steelwork coming down the River Wear.

“There has been extensive work on site to prepare for the steelwork and to get the piers and abutments ready for the steel to be installed.”

Ten metres wide and spanning 260 metres, at a height of 30m above the river, the new footbridge is one of several developments currently under construction at Riverside Sunderland, alongside the Housing Innovation and Construction Skills Academy (HICSA), Maker & Faber, Culture House, the new Eye Hospital and Vaux Housing.

Councillor Kevin Johnston, portfolio holder for housing, regeneration and business at Sunderland City Council, said: “It was a spectacle to behold seeing the first two sections of the new Wear footbridge arrive at Port of Sunderland.

“The new Wear footbridge is the linchpin of our overall plan to regenerate Riverside Sunderland and will transform the city’s active travel network, so it is fantastic to see yet another piece of the jigsaw fall into place as it begins to rise from the ground and take shape.”

Planning was also granted last week for a new underpass and bridge-structure at the end of Easington Street, connecting the bridge directly to the Stadium of Light.

Councillor Kevin Johnston added: “This additional infrastructure at Sheepfolds will complete the footbridge development by connecting it to both the north and south side of the river.

“It will also significantly improve accessibility to the Stadium of Light, Sheepfolds Stables, National Esports Arena and the Housing Innovation and Construction Skills Academy (HICSA), all of which are currently underway at Sheepfolds, while preserving the heritage of the site. It will provide a real boost to the area.”