First deck of new Sunderland bridge launched across River Wear

The first deck of the new River Wear bridge in Sunderland was moved into position on Thursday.

The deck began its journey at 8am, moving at a speed of ten to 15 metres an hour, before coming to rest a third of the way across the river.

Hydraulic jacks were used to pull the 230 metre long deck into position.

The bridge deck being launched Picture: MARK SAVAGE

The project is being carried out by Belfast based Farrans Construction and Victor Buyck Steel Construction in Belgium - one of Europe's major structural steelwork contractors - creating joint venture FVB.

Patrick Van Severen, project director for Victor Buyck Steel Construction, said this was the first big milestone for the project.

“We have got 14 cables pulling 2,500 tonnes of steel and concrete over the river, so it is a major project that has taken about two years of planning.

“Once this phase is done, the pylon will be erected and then we will start pulling the next part of the bridge across the river.”

The 105m high pylon, taller than Big Ben’s clock tower, will be the centre piece of the bridge and will arrive at the Port of Sunderland from Belgium in the coming months.

The bridge pictured on Thursday evening. Picture: Mark Savage

“I am very proud – it is very pleasing to see what you have been planning for all this time become reality” he added.

When completed, around 27,000 vehicles are expected to use the new bridge every day.

Stephen McCaffrey, project director of FBV, said: “This is a big milestone - pulling a 2,500 tonne section of bridge out over the middle of the river is not easy and takes a lot of engineering and preparation.

He added that the project is currently within its £117m budget, with £80m coming from Government funding.

Local girl Amy Wright, senior site engineer, lives just a stone’s throw away from the bridge and was responsible for the first phase of construction.

“This is my baby” she said.

“I’m really excited – the project has been in the pipeline for almost 20 years, and it is great to see it finally reach this stage.”

Harry Trueman, deputy leader of Sunderland City Council, said: “It is a phenomenal sight – I have never seen a structure like it.

“It is great that the bridge is being built in Sunderland and helping the economy in the region.

“Other bridges in the city cannot cope with the amount of traffic, so this will be massive for the area and help residents and businesses on both sides of the river.”

The new bridge will cross the River Wear between Wessington Way in Castletown and European Way in Pallion.

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

The project is due for completion in spring 2018.