Northern Spire Bridge
| Northern Spire Bridge | |
| County Durham | |
|---|---|
 The Northern Spire Bridge, Sunderland | |
| Location | |
| Carrying: | A1231 road |
| Crossing: | River Wear |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | NZ37005816 |
| Location: | 54°55’0"N, 1°25’28"W |
| Structure | |
| History | |
| Built 2015 – 2018 | |
| Information | |
The Northern Spire Bridge is a modern, cable-stayed road bridge which carries the A1231 over the River Wear in Sunderland, County Durham.
The crossing opened to pedestrians on 28 August 2018, before opening to traffic the next day. A two span cable-stayed structure. Construction began in May 2015,
A crossing had been proposed as early as 2005, however financial uncertainties caused significant delay until funding was approved by HM Treasury. Originally an ambitious design was selected, but was later dropped after several contractors withdrew.[1] In 2014, the project switched to a cheaper cable-stayed design.
Specifications
The bridge has been constructed to the west side of the city over the River Wear, with the purpose of reducing traffic congestion.[2] It was designed by Spence Associates in partnership with structural engineering firm Techniker.[3] The bridge was first designed in 2005, but it was kept confidential for several years by the City Council to avoid a rise in expectations until funding was secured. The council was also considering plans for a cheaper, basic beam bridge design.[4] The cost of the Spence design was estimated at £133 million for the bridge and the associated approaches and roadworks.
Background and history
An urban regeneration project began in 2003, looking at a new road bridge over the River Wear. An international design competition was won in 2005 Spence Associated, for a cable-stayed bridge.[5] A public consultation followed, which favoured this design, and the council approved it, abandoning the cheaper beam bridge option:[6] arguing that the more ambitious design would attract more businesses to the city and thus create more jobs.[7] Construction was timetabled to start around 2012.[8]
However, by July 2013 construction still had not begun, due to difficulty in producing the design at the approved funding level; several contractors withdrew from the project.[9] This led to a reassessment of the design, which dropped the Spence plan in favour of a simpler cable-stayed design.[10]
Between 10 and 11 February 2017, the central A-frame pylon (fabricated in Ghent, Belgium by Victor Buyck Steel Construction)[11][12] was installed which stands at a height of 344 feet, making it the tallest structure in Sunderland.
The raising of the single bridge pylon marked the culmination of two years of design and planning, as well as twelve months of fabricating.
Gallery
-
The site of the Northern Spire in 2010 -
The spire being raised in 2017 -
Walking across the bridge -
Looking up towards the spire
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Northern Spire Bridge) |
Reference
- ↑ Hoyland, Trevor (2008-12-01). "Next step in road to iconic Wear bridge". Sunderland Echo (Johnston Press). SSN 0963-8997. https://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/next-step-in-road-to-iconic-wear-bridge-1-1055925.
- ↑ "Regeneration projects: SSTC". Sunderland Arc. http://www.sunderlandarc.co.uk/regeneration-projects-moredetails.aspx?id=8.
- ↑ James, Paul (2008-11-20). "Landmark Wear bridge to be Sunderland's symbol". The Journal (Newcastle upon Tyne: Trinity Mirror). http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-news/2008/11/20/landmark-wear-bridge-to-be-sunderland-s-symbol-61634-22298878/.
- ↑ Vaughan, Richard (2008-09-12). "Spence Associates' Wear Bridge comes face to face with 'basic' rival". Architects' Journal (London: Metropolis International). SSN 0003-8466. http://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/spence-associates-wear-bridge-comes-face-to-face-with-basic-rival/1846083.article.
- ↑ Vaughan, Richard. "Spence Associates' 'iconic' Wear Bridge comes face to face with 'basic' rival" (in en). https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/spence-associates-iconic-wear-bridge-comes-face-to-face-with-basic-rival/1845929.article.
- ↑ "Council backs iconic Wear bridge despite the expense". New Civil Engineer (Metropolis International). 2008-11-26. SSN 0307-7683. http://www.nce.co.uk/council-backs-iconic-wear-bridge-despite-the-expense/1935232.article.
- ↑ "Bridge will be England's tallest". BBC News (BBC). 2009-09-03. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/wear/8235463.stm.
- ↑ "Striking design for new Wear bridge". New Start. 2009-07-10. http://www.newstartmag.co.uk/news/article/striking-design-for-new-wear-bridge/.
- ↑ "Sunderland City Council scraps plan to build £118million bridge across the Wear". Sunderland Echo (Johnston Press). 2014-07-14. SSN 0963-8997. http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/business/sunderland-city-council-scraps-plan-to-build-118million-bridge-across-the-wear-1-5838811.
- ↑ "How the new £118m Sunderland bridge might look". Sunderland Echo (Johnston Press). 2014-05-04. SSN 0963-8997. http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/how-the-new-118m-sunderland-bridge-might-look-1-6646336.
- ↑ "England’s new Sunderland Bridge renamed Northern Spire | World Highways". https://www.worldhighways.com/wh10/news/englands-new-sunderland-bridge-renamed-northern-spire.
- ↑ "Timetable - Sunderland City Council". https://www.sunderland.gov.uk/article/14612/Timetable.
| Bridges and crossings on the River Wear | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victoria Viaduct | Cox Green Footbridge | Hylton Viaduct | Northern Spire Bridge | Queen Alexandra Bridge | Monkwearmouth Bridge | Wearmouth Bridge |