VolkerStevin’s construction of the £44M New Wear Footbridge in Sunderland has reached a significant milestone with the commencement of deck panel placement.

The footbridge, which spans 250m, measures 10m in width and stands at a height of 30m above the River Wear, is a pivotal element in the Riverside Sunderland development initiative. This initiative involves over £1bn in investments aimed at revitalising the area by enhancing connectivity and public spaces.

The bridge’s four main steel sections were transported to the site via barge from Victor Buyck’s fabrication yard in Belgium last summer.

In total, the structure’s deck will feature 91 precast concrete panels, each measuring 10m wide.

The panels are being installed using a specially designed trolley system that enables the north-south placement of each panel. A crane lifts each panel from the southern riverside park onto the trolley, which then manoeuvres it into position.

Once adjacent to each other, the panels will be bonded using in-situ concrete to create a unified deck.

Following the successful installation of all deck panels, work will commence on the final finishes of the bridge deck.

The design of the New Wear Footbridge integrates a notable public artwork, the Keel Line, which stretches 292m and commemorates the 8,102 ships built in Sunderland’s historic shipyards. The reference design was provided by AtkinsRéalis, while detailed design contributions came from Arup and Knight Architects.

The New Wear Footbridge is expected to significantly enhance pedestrian movement between the north and south sides of the River Wear, further supporting the ongoing transformation of the Sunderland waterfront.

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