Sunderland New Wear Crossing

VolkerMarine Services was approached by the client to provide support barges for various plant and equipment, from excavators to cherry pickers, to assist in several challenges the project faced when constructing the new bridge.

As well as supplying 18no standard linkflote pontoons and 2no spud pontoons, VolkerMarine Services also supplied a 115HP workboat to assist with general river logistics and manoeuvre of the pontoons. The Linkflote pontoons were used for a variety of applications, including dredging works and painting the underside of the bridge deck.

The fast flowing water and tidal river conditions meant that the installation had to be carefully planned and executed to ensure the safety of all operatives involved. Careful collaboration between the client and contractor enabled works to be completed timely and safely.

The FVB joint venture, compromising Farrans Construction and Victor Buyck Steel Construction, delivered the project on behalf of Sunderland City Council.

With a maximum span of 148 metres, the £117.6million cable-stayed bridge crosses the River Wear between the North of Castletown to Pallion on the South bank. As the first major road bridge to be built in Sunderland in over 40 years, it is hoped it will help to regenerate the area by relieving congestion and improving vital road transport links connecting the Port of Sunderland and Sunderland city centre with the A19, the developing IAMP Enterprise Zone and the wider Tyne and Wear city-region.