Sunderland City Council's executive cabinet has agreed to the appointment of a consultant to carry out traffic modelling and update the business case for the transport project that includes the New Wear Bridge.
The council proposes that the work should be carried out by Jacobs under a framework agreement, as competitive procurement would take six months and delay submission of the planning application. The committee has also authorised the acquisition of land required for construction, including use of compulsory purchase.
The New Wear Bridge has two asymmetrical, curved 'bull horns' which are intended to act as towers supporting the cable-stayed deck. Its design by architect Spence Associates and structural engineer Techniker was selected by a competition jury in 2005, but the council refused to make the details public until September 2008.
