New Wear Footbridge (Keel Crossing)
Sunderland, UK (River Wear) · 2024–2025 · £31 million
The judgement call
Account-gated at launchDesigned to revitalize the city centre and boost connectivity between the city and the Stadium of Light. - A vital part of a larger £500m regeneration scheme for the banks of the River Wear. - The project demonstrates innovative fabrication and installation techniques for urban footbridges.
Key engineering challenges
Fabrication of the bridge in four sections off-site and transport to location. - Installation of large steel sections over the River Wear. - Integrating the bridge into the wider Riverside Sunderland regeneration scheme. - Addressing location challenges for installation.
Project facts
- Client / owner
- Sunderland City Council
- Lead contractor
- VolkerStevin (design and build), Victor Buyck Steel Construction (fabrication)
- Lead designers
- Knight Architects (design), VolkerStevin (civil engineering specialist)
- Project type
- new build
- Scale
- 250m length; connects city centre to Stadium of Light; part of £500m regeneration scheme.
- Disciplines
- Civil; Structural; Architectural
- Standards & frameworks
- —
Sources: BBC News (2025): https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz7pw5x5ql9o - Knight Architects: https://www.knightarchitects.co.uk/bridges/new-wear-footbridge - VolkerStevin: https://www.volkerstevin.co.uk/en/projects/new-wear-footbridge - Victor Buyck Steel Construction: https://www.victorbuyck.be/en/project/new-wear-footbridge - New Civil Engineer (2024): https://www.newcivilengineer.com/in-depth/project-team-behind-sunderlands-new-250m-footbridge-addresses-location-challenges-27-06-2024/