Here Wear go! Crossing pylon on the rise today
LANDMARK DAY AS BRIDGE TAKES SHAPE
Work to lift the stunning centrepiece of Sunderland’s New Wear Crossing into position was all set to begin today.
The operation to begin moving the 100metre high central pylon upright was due to begin at about 8am.
It will be the first time anything of this size has been raised in this way since the LondonEyewasliftedin1999.
Specialist engineers had been completing the final preparations before the operation gets under way to lift the 1550-tonne pylon – which is equivalent in weight to 125 double decker buses.
Thousands of people were expected to line the banks of the River Wear to watch as the pylon is slowly raised 90 degrees during a challenging procedure, which is expected to take at least 24 hours to complete.
Standing at twice the height of Nelson’s Column and bigger than Big Ben’s clock tower, the pylon will be visible from some considerable distance on both sides of the river.
An exclusion zone will be in place around the site to ensure spectators are kept at a safe distance, and people are being asked to respect both barriers and members of the marshalling team, who will be in place throughout the operation.
Sunderland City Council leader Coun Paul Watson said the raising operation would be a sight to behold.
“I think this is the moment we have all been waiting for, when we see this impressive structure raised upovertheRiverWearduring whatIbelievewillbearealengineering spectacle,” he said.
“This new bridge is going to bring great things to Sunderland, and the raising of the pylon symbolises the beginning of that.
“The bridge will enable land along the south banks of the river to be regenerated, it will attract investment into Sunderland, and with that will come new jobs, too.
“The pylon is being raised this week, and so too are our ambitions for this