Final parts of Sunderland’s New Wear Footbridge arrive

One of the most eyecatching elements of the Riverside Sunderland regeneration project is a step closer, with the final two steel sections being delivered last weekend.

The two sections of the New Wear Footbridge are 63m and 105m respectively and will form part of the visual centrepiece of the Riverside Sunderland development, one of the UK’s largest urban regeneration projects. They have now been delivered to the Port of Sunderland.

The bridge is earmarked for a summer 2025 opening and will provide a boost to local businesses by improving access to the Sheepfolds Stables, the Stadium of Light, Housing & Innovation Construction Skills Academy (HICSA), and the new residential neighbourhood being created to the north of the river.

The two parts will be shipped upriver beyond the historic Wearmouth Bridge, to the site of the New Wear Footbridge, where they will be lifted into place and installed by lead contractor, VolkerStevin.

Ten metres wide, 250m long and at a height of 30m above the river, the New Wear footbridge is one of several high-profile developments currently under construction at Riverside Sunderland.

Once the final two parts of the bridge have been lifted into place, VolkerStevin will then begin welding the pieces together, installing the deck and the railings, and then adding the final touches to prepare it for opening.

Cllr Kevin Johnston, portfolio holder for housing, regeneration and business at Sunderland City Council, said: “It is incredibly symbolic in the sense that it is bridging Sunderland’s past and future. A whole host of developments are either underway or set to be developed across both sides of the River Wear as part of the Riverside Sunderland masterplan and this will play a key role in linking all of those projects.

“New offices, homes, parks, hospitals, leisure venues, educational institutes and sporting arenas are all set to be completed over the coming years and the New Wear Footbridge is central to all of that. It’s arguably one of the most exciting periods in the city’s rich history.”

Mike Rimmer, senior project manager at VolkerStevin, said: “The team are now preparing the site ready to lift the two sections into place, it will be another exciting moment to see and get these two final sections of the bridge into place.”

Riverside Sunderland is recognised as one of the UK’s most ambitious regeneration projects, with more than £500m of development projects currently live on site. The scheme seeks to double the number of people living within Sunderland city centre while providing workspace for 8,000 to 10,000 quality jobs.

The sections have been shipped from Belgium. Credit: via Creo