Discover SSTC

Over the next 10 years it is predicted that over 2,500 more vehicles per hour at peak times will be travelling into Sunderland city centre from across the region and beyond.

Sunderland City Council and Sunderland arc are working in partnership to deliver the right transport route for the future success of the city. This new transport route will include dedicated footpaths, cycle routes and bus lanes, wherever possible.

Proposal:

• New road and modifications to existing routes
• Improvements to A19 interchange and Wessington Way
• New iconic bridge over the River Wear

The SSTC project will provide a new means of access to development sites in central Sunderland, providing the infrastructure for their ongoing and continued role within the city.

Following public consultation exercises the agreed route begins at the A19 / A1231 intersection, along Wessington Way, across the River Wear via a new bridge crossing at Claxheugh and travelling east towards the Port via land on the southern banks of the River Wear.

In August 2008 the Department for Transport approved funding of £98m for the new bridge, which forms the first phase of the SSTC and will serve cars, cyclists and pedestrian traffic. The bridge will spring from the A1231 into the Grove site linking the south side of the bridge to European Way. The desire for a landmark bridge was identified as early as 2003 by Sunderland arc in its Investment Strategy as a means of contributing to the regeneration of the area and the development of an enhanced gateway for the city.

In autumn 2008 Sunderland City Council undertook its largest ever public consultation exercise to gauge public attitude towards the options of a standard road bridge or landmark bridge and how the additional costs should be funded. The consultation attracted overall support in favour of an landmark design but with the opinion that the impact on council tax should be kept to a minimum. 

SCC is continuing to review the sources of funding for the landmark bridge. The project remains on programme with the anticipated completion date of spring 2014.

SSTC Gallery