Member Article

New Wear Crossing update: More early progress plus property impact

Bdaily is providing regular updates on the New Wear Crossing, the major initiative to help reduce traffic congestion and connect major development sites across Sunderland.

Work is quickly progressing at the New Wear Crossing, as two roadworks are due to begin in two locations next week.

A 250 metre stretch of the A1231 Wessington Way, before the Sainsbury’s roundabout, heading east, towards the Stadium of Light/city centre, will be reduced to one lane from Monday (16 November) for the next four weeks.

The roundabout will be fully open in all directions, and pedestrians will still be able to cross the A1231 at the usual crossing point.

The lane restriction is being put in place because further work is needed at the north west corner of the roundabout to finalise the construction proposals in this specific area.

Work is also due to commence on widening and strengthening Woodbine Terrace in Pallion in advance of the construction of the new bridge, which is set to open in 2018, linking Castletown and Pallion across the River Wear.

Timber screening is being installed on Woodbine Terrace to secure the area and enable a new boundary wall to be built on the strip of land that runs down towards the river, next to Matalan.

During these works, traffic along Woodbine Terrace will be reduced to one lane. Priority will be given to traffic heading north, towards the river, ensuring that there is no queueing traffic back to the roundabout at the entrance to Pallion Industrial Estate.

Signs will be in place at all times to inform people that retailers on Pallion Retail Park and local businesses, such as Sunderland Wall and WH Forster Printers at Pallion Quay, are operating as usual.

New Wear Crossing impact on property

Kevan Carrick, principal at JK Property Consultants, was commissioned by Sunderland City Council to investigate and prepare a report on the impact that the new crossing would have on property. His findings helped the council in its successful bid for Government funding to build the new bridge.

Mr Carrick said: “The bridge is an integral part of the strategic relief road which runs from the A19 at Wessington Way through Sunderland City Centre to the port, and then south and out on to the A19 to Seaham. It’s an important route that connects the regional infrastructure to the Port of Sunderland.

“Our report looked at whether a strong design of bridge would make a bigger impact on the surrounding area than a bridge of ordinary design. The job entailed desktop research on river crossings worldwide – across the Baltic, Copenhagen, Los Angeles and Sydney – looking at all the iconic as well as stronger design bridges.

“We looked at the impact of transport change on the economy and the impact on the surrounding area, and recommended that a bridge – like any transport hub – would have the impact of improving land, particularly around the landing points of the bridge on both sides of the river.

“Our research showed that a strong design of bridge would increase the density of development around it.

The complex report was one of the more unusual tasks JK Property Consultants has been asked to undertake, and the detailed research was an important part in Sunderland City Council’s decision-making process. The report helped the council opt for a bridge of strong design and was used to help secure £82.521m Government funding towards the project.

The new bridge will be double the height of Gateshead’s Millennium Bridge and taller than Big Ben. The strong design features a 115m high A-frame pylon and the cable-stayed bridge will handle two lanes of traffic in both directions as well as footpaths and cyclepaths.

Mr Carrick said: “This is one of the more unusual projects we have been asked to work on. At JK Property Consultants, we handle a huge variety of consultancy work, from problem solving to strategic and development advice, using many years of experience and knowledge of the local and national property market.”

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