Sunderland scraps £120m Wear bridge design

Grant Prior 12 years ago
Share

Sunderland City Council has scrapped plans for an iconic £120m Wear Crossing after bidders confirmed they could not build the bridge under the current budget.

The council will now go back to the drawing board to come-up with a simplified cable-stayed design.

Graham Construction and Vinci were the only two bidders left in the race after Ferrovial and Balfour Beatty dropped-out.

The job will now be re-tendered with a revised OJEU notice due later this year.

Concerns about construction risks on the job centred on the two independent curving bridge pylons.

They would have to have been built as huge unconnected post-tensioned structures rising 180m and 140m into the air.

Councillor Paul Watson, Leader of Sunderland City Council said: “While it is initially disappointing to learn that the unique design cannot be built within the budget available, we must now move forward positively towards our vision for a new Sunderland bridge, albeit by modifying our approach.

“The simplified design for the bridge will continue to embrace modern and tasteful design qualities, whilst maximising tested engineering technology and construction techniques.

“The fact that it is of cable-stayed design means that by its nature it will have a striking quality to it.

“It will sit within the same footprint and deliver on all of the benefits of the initial design, by reducing traffic congestion, improving connectivity and unlocking brownfield land – with its potential to increase growth, jobs and investment.

“What is most important is that we deliver a new crossing over the Wear.

“I have no doubt that the project team will quickly rise to this fresh challenge and I hope the city will embrace the new design once we are in a position to release further details.

“When the landmark design was first suggested, the city and the UK economy were in a very different place. Given the current economic climate we will not be seeking further funding, instead we must review our plans and work within our means.

“Sunderland undoubtedly needs a new bridge over the Wear to unlock underutilised land and improve infrastructure, attract further investment, to support the city long term economic growth and prosperity, as well as that of the wider North East region.

“Delivering a new bridge as soon as possible is the priority for us now and a simplified design approach is the smart and achievable solution.”

The revised bridge will transport two lanes of traffic in both directions, have dedicated cycleways and footpaths along its full length and retain the existing footprint.

 

Latest news

Comment: Gateway is acting like a barricade

Contractors left banging their heads on an (unbuilt) brick wall
21 hours ago

Final phase of £1.5bn Elephant and Castle revamp hits planning

Get Living submits revised plan for 500 homes and 450-bed student block
2 days ago

Ealing backs final phase of £1.3bn estate rebuild

Friary Park estate rebuild in Acton reaches end stage
20 hours ago

Green light for scaled-down Nottingham student tower

Glasshouse Street scheme will deliver 247 student rooms
21 hours ago

Aston Villa to revamp North Stand

Club to reuse existing structure rather than complete rebuild
2 days ago

Mace signs ex-ISG director to lead Euro health and tech push

Gary Sweeney to head up healthcare and life sciences consultancy arm
20 hours ago

Sir Robert McAlpine claws way back into profit

Firm says return to profit and strong cash balance validates new strategy
2 days ago

Severfield to cut staff by 6% amid pricing pressure

Steelwork contractor warns of extended tighter pricing due to project delays
2 days ago

JRL completes sale of 50% stake to Malaysian giant IJM

Deal boosts balance sheet and kicks starts growth plan
2 days ago

Green light for £100m Liverpool Baltic station build

Enabling highway works to start in the autumn
3 days ago

First live tests for flying construction robots

Drones can lay construction materials at height on site
2 days ago

Three firms land £170m Gentoo Sunderland housing deal

PHS Solutions, Esh and RE:GEN to deliver 10-year home upgrade plan
3 days ago

Gateway gridlock hits build-to-rent delivery as starts nosedive

Build to rent starts plunge 18% in the capital
3 days ago

Call to shift Gateway 2 checks to end building bottleneck

"The current system isn't working but we all want to see safe buildings"
3 days ago

GBN launches £600m bid race for SMR engineer roles

Owner engineers to provide technical and assurance services
3 days ago

Wates hires ex-Homes England chief to head public sector push

Robert Stone to spearhead its public sector and national frameworks strategy
3 days ago

Acheson Construction collapse costs suppliers £8.5m

One frustrated creditor seized a telehandler after contractor went into administration
4 days ago

Dominus wins go-ahead for 173-bed Glasgow scheme

Old Wynd Street job expected to cost around £25m to build
4 days ago

Safety Regulator misses deadline to clear Gateway 2 backlog

Investors pulling out of funding high rise buildings
4 days ago

CITB still sitting on £95m cash pile

Staff numbers jump from 666 to 763 as training body wage bill soars
4 days ago

£500m road surfacing framework market call

NEPO goes out to consultation on north east regional highways deal
4 days ago

Two share £220m Scottish rail repairs and minor works deal

AmcoGiffen and CPMS win civils and building repair deals
4 days ago

Builder wanted for £60m London leisure and flats job

Tower Hamlets aims to replace St George’s Leisure Centre in Shadwell
4 days ago

Contractor confirmed for business park expansion

Roe Developments to start on next phase of Castle Donington scheme
4 days ago

Driver escapes injury as scaffold collapses onto van

Major three-lift scaffold fall blocks north London high street
1 week ago

Gilbert Ash to be sold to staff

£267m turnover contractor to transition to an Employee Ownership Trust
1 week ago

M Group seals biggest-ever deal with Telent takeover

Digital infrastructure specialist deal lifts turnover to £3bn
1 week ago

Aggregates firm Ashville went down owing more than £3m

Debts revealed in Companies House update
1 week ago

Cardo saves 100 jobs at Breyer roofing arm

Private equity-backed Welsh maintenance group continues to expand
1 week ago

Excavator knocked off lorry going under bridge

Traffic Commissioner inquiry after accident in south London
1 week ago

Contractor services