THE WALK OF FAME
Thousands rush to be among first to cross iconic Northern Spire
The Northern Spire is open at last.
Thousands of people flocked to Sunderland’s stunning new bridge yesterday as it welcomed visitors ahead of today’s opening to traffic.
Anofficialopeningwilltake place, with three Sunderlandbuilt Nissan vehicles be the firsttotravelacrossthebridge.
Pedestrians and cyclists queued for the chance to be a part of history as the threeyear construction project finally came to an end.
The bridge is expected to provide a major boost for Sunderland’s economy.
Among the first to cross were sisters Joyce Turnbull and Ellen Morrison. Joyce, 76, is from Sunderland, while 70-year-old Ellen was making a visit back to the city to see family from her home in Wales.
The pair were impressed by what they saw: “It’s lovely,“said Joyce.
“It is great for the North East to have something like this.”
Ellen was last home in March: “The bridge looked then like it was coming on well,” she said. “I think it is magnificent.” Mum Neaera Warren had brought sons Byron, 10, and eight-year-old Jayden down, along with friend Jack Taylor, also ten.
“I think it’s fantastic,” she said.
Jack had made the most of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: “I liked being able to lie down in the road because there are no cars,” he said, while Jayden thought the bridge was ‘amazing.’
Byron was less impressed: “Boring,” he sniffed.
Alijohn Zamora and wife Annjanette had brought children Ailia, 10, and five-yearold Anthony from their home in Millfield and were queuing at noon.
Alijohn works at Unipres in Washington and has been excited to see the bridge’s progress.
“I have been waiting for this moment,” he said.
Annjannette and Ailia were impressed with the design.
“Architecturally, it is beautiful,” said Annjanette, while Ailia added: “They have really put a lot of thought into it.”
For construction manager Ryan Rogan, seeing the end of the project was a bittersweet moment, but he was delighted members of the public had been given a chance to see the bridge up close.
“Civil engineering is usually buried in the bowels of the earth,” he said.
“But people are getting a chance to enjoy it here.”
City council leader Coun
“I have been waiting for this moment” ALIJOHN ZAMORA
Graeme Miller was delighted by the turnout: “I am not at all surprised,” he said.
“I think we are going to see thousands because the people of Sunderland are very, very keen to be part of the opening of this bridge.
“People are very pleased and very happy.”
Tory leader Coun Robert Oliver said the Northern Spire could be ‘as iconic’ as the Angel of the North: “The project has to be seen as primarily one of economic redevelopment with the ultimate aim of connecting Nissan and other businesses with the Port of Sunderland.
“Ithasalwaysbeenashame that cars produced in Washington are exported throughout the world from the Port of Tyne with Sunderland’s own deep water port nearby,”
“It is to be hoped that, once complete, the bridge and the whole transport corridor could persuade successive governments to invest more in the infrastructure in the region.
“If successful in bringing jobs to the city, kick-starting the Vaux site and opening up land for executive and affordable housing, then more investmentcouldbeontheway.”
However, while the Conservatives have given their backing to the plans of the Labour-controlled council, the other opposition group, the Liberal Democrats have been more sceptical.
Coun Oliver added: “Liberal Democrats have referred to theNorthernSpireasa‘bridge to nowhere’ and a ‘white elephant’ but they could not be more wrong in term of the impact it may have.
“It is one of the most positive things to happen on Wearside in recent years and an excellent example of political parties working together to get the best for the city.”