Alternative Wear bridge design revealed

Sep 10 2008 by Paul James, The Journal

A DESIGN for a new bridge over the River Wear that would cost council taxpayers nothing has been revealed.

Last week The Journal published the first picture showing how an iconic £133m river crossing between the A1231 Wessington Way and Pallion would look.

Sunderland City Council chiefs have secured £104m for their new bridge, and would have to find the extra cash themselves to build the “horny” structure.

Now the council has released an artist’s impression of a cheaper design – and is asking the city to make a decision.

A council statement said it could choose to build a conventional bridge that could be paid for within the budget, and would probably look similar to the Hylton Bridge on the A19.

Council leader Paul Watson said: “Sunderland City Council said earlier this year that once the business case for a bridge was accepted by the Government it would look in more detail at what could be built, how much it could cost, what the issues are, and make that information available to people in Sunderland. This is what the council is now doing.

“This council regularly asks people and organisations what they think about big questions and ideas facing Sunderland.

“Aspirations for an ‘iconic’ bridge come with an extra cost and people need that information to help them decide. We will be guided by what the people of Sunderland say. But we need people to be aware of the potential impact the ‘iconic’ bridge design may have on their council tax or services.”

The “cable-stay bridge”, designed by architect Stephen Spence, is designed to fit with regeneration company Sunderland arc’s visionary plans for the city.

Comments can be given at any Sunderland Customer Service Centre from tomorrow until Friday, September 19. A roadshow featuring the two designs will start at the Galleries shopping centre in Washington, from Thursday until Saturday, then move to Morrisons supermarket in Seaburn, from Sunday, September 14, to Tuesday, September 16.

Council staff will be in the Bridges shopping centre in Sunderland from Thursday, September 18, to Sunday, September 21, at Hylton Riverside Retail Park on Friday, September 12, 1-3.30pm, and at Pallion Road Retail Park on Tuesday, September 16, 10am-4pm. Alternatively anyone wishing to comment can call (0191) 520-5555 during normal office hours or visit www.sunderland.gov.uk/newbridge