River work on new Sunderland bridge set to bring more road closures

The arrival of the Claude Monique in the river where the bridge is to be built has marked a gear change for the project. Credit: DTW

Work is beginning in the River Wear for the foundations of Sunderland’s new bridge, bringing with it fresh road closures.

The start of the river work is marked by the arrival of the Claude Monique – a large barge that is equipped with two cranes and a range of piling equipment to help the construction team to build in the river.

The vessel, measuring 42m x 15m, will provide a platform for the team to work from as a cofferdam is used to help put in the bridge’s foundations.

It is the first bridge to be built over the Wear in the city for more than 40 years and is part of the wider strategic transport plan to link the Port of Sunderland and city centre to the A19 and the A1.

Phased roadworks relating to the New Wear Crossing have started, with the biggest impact of the traffic management measures, which include lane closures and reduced speed limits, along the A1231 Wessington Way in Castletown.

Other roadworks along several routes in the city will get underway in the coming weeks, which will allow construction workers to safely begin building the approach roads for the new bridge on both the north and south side of the river.Fresh road closures:

  • The permanent closure from February 1 of a short section of Timber Beach Road that links Wessington Way to Sunderland Enterprise Park. It is one of four access roads into Sunderland Enterprise Park. The other three access points will remain open and the current temporary traffic lights along the main section of Timber Beach Road will be removed before the closure.

  • A short 250m diversion of the Coast to Coast cycling route as it runs past Sunderland Enterprise Park, taking it along Hylton Park Road, will also be implemented in February. The diversion will be in place until the new bridge is open.

A map showing where the planned roadworks will take place. Credit: Sunderland City Council

Councillor Paul Watson, Leader of Sunderland City Council, appealed for people to drive carefully and according to the new lower speed limits, and said the benefits of the bridge would far outweigh the disruption during the coming months.

“I’m sure people are as excited as I am to see the bridge become a reality.

“There are, however, roadworks taking place on both sides of the river. While we appreciate they may cause delays and some frustration, I would urge everyone to drive very carefully, and to stick to the reduced speed limits for their own safety, and that of the construction team.”