Sunderland City Council are celebrating after plans to build an ambitious new bridge were given the go ahead. The Government have agreed to provide £82.6 million to help fund the bridge which will be 180 metres high and 336 metres long, making it the tallest bridge in Britain.
The North East of England has always been famous for its bridges, most notably on the Tyne. The Tyne boasts the infamous Tyne Bridge, the swing bridge built by Lord Armstrong and the the innovative hydraulically powered Millennium bridge. However, the Wear will now have a landmark bridge of its own to join the historic Queen Alexandria bridge.
The Council bid for £82.5 million after the Government announced that £630 million would be made available for projects that will help economic growth and provide jobs. Following the successful bid, Sunderland claims that the project could create thousands of jobs.
Councillor Paul Watson, leader of Sunderland City Council, said, "The investment in a strategic infrastructure scheme will open up regeneration sites along the River Wear and bring forward investment to Sunderland. We see this project as an integral part of Sunderland’s ongoing regeneration as it can help create thousands of new jobs by improving links between the A19, the city centre and the Port of Sunderland."
Work on the bridge is expected to begin in 2012, with work being completed by 2015.
