SUNDERLAND’S new Northern Spire bridge will be closed this Sunday, September 16, when it hosts a celebratory artistic event to mark its opening.

The bridge across the River Wear, and its associated link roads, will be closed to both vehicles and pedestrians from 11pm on Saturday, September 15, through to midnight on Sunday, September 16, to make way for Wonderlooper.

During the closure, drivers and pedestrians wishing to cross the river will be diverted across the Queen Alexandra Bridge, the Wearmouth Bridge or the A19 Hylton Bridge.

All tickets for the event have gone and people will only be able to access it if they have a ticket for a specific time slot on the day.

More than a thousand people have snapped up tickets for the showcase, which will use musical kaleidescopes – created from leftover materials in the construction of the bridge – to enable people to experience the cable stayed structure in a totally unique way. During hour-long slots, people can walk across the deck and view and listen to the bridge through the musical kaleidescopes, named Wonderloopers, which will give a totally different perspective on Northern Spire.

Leader of Sunderland City Council Cllr Graeme Miller said the event promised to be a wonderful affair.

“Northern Spire has been open for a couple of weeks now and I think everyone is enjoying travelling across it, and, of course, is admiring it,” he said.

“It is certainly a beautiful addition to the Sunderland skyline. The Wonderlooper event on Sunday is a chance to celebrate the city’s stunning new bridge once more. The wonderloopers sound fascinating; they will certainly give people an opportunity to experience the bridge in a different way.

“During the closure of Northern Spire and the associated link roads, we urge people to use the other bridges to get across the river, to follow the signs and to drive carefully and in accordance with the speed limits.”For more information, visit playthebridge.org