WORK has begun at the site of a new bridge across the River Wear in Sunderland.

The Claude Monique, a large barge equipped with cranes and other equipment, has arrived on the Wear and the foundations for the central pylon will be put into place in the coming weeks.

The £117 million crossing will link Castletown and Pallion. It is the first new bridge to be built over the Wear in Sunderland for 40 years.

Stephen McCaffrey, project director with FVB JV, said: “During the past eight months, much of our work has revolved around clearing the site on the south side of the river and preparing the embankments for the foundations to be laid to support the approach roads to the bridge.

“We have now reached a point where the in-river work is starting and the Claude Monique will help us to do that by providing us with a substantial platform to work from.”

For more information on the project, visit newwearcrossing.co.uk or call 0800-223-0379.