• The forum upgrades are now largely complete.
    Please read this thread for more details.
    New user registrations are currently disabled.

Keel Crossing [opened 18.10.25] - compendium thread


Keel Crossing was one of my suggestions and I'm sure other people suggested too, so I will go for that.
Bridges should have prosaic names, A19 Hylton bridge, Fatfield roadbridge, coxgreen footbridge, Wearmouth etc. Dont think they have official names. Keel crossing while boring, is certainly better than say the "red and white bridge of light". I think Keel crossing is fine, will just get the footbridge anyway. Still call Northern Spire the new bridge so while boring think Keel bridge works.
 
Keel and Wear Crossing are fine, unsure what people expect? :lol:

Beacon Bridge, I'm not so sure about but wouldn't complain about it.

Are there any Ships or a local famous family name that could have been suggested?
Does it even need a name? Can't it just be "the footbridge"?

"Untitled".
 
Last edited:
All the choices are appalling

Beacon Bridge- it’s not as if it’s directly near the beacon
Wear Crossing- Boring and it’s a bridge not a crossing which on a river would normally refer to a ferry
Keel Crossing- Same as above but marginally less boring
 
Could just let the name evolve naturally I suppose. See what the people favour after a few months.
Should have called it "The Sports Direct Bridge" with a few name signs on the side and top as an advertisement for a potential sponsor.
I'm jesting!!
Extra potential revenue opportunity being missed out on!
 
Keel Crossing is the best of those but I think The Keel Bridge or The Keel Line Bridge would have been better.
I can't imagine the other two choices were anywhere near the top choices.

However I reckon near the top would have been Vaux Bridge and Bradley Bridge. Both of which are unsuitable for such a thing.
 
Keel Crossing is the best of those but I think The Keel Bridge or The Keel Line Bridge would have been better.
I can't imagine the other two choices were anywhere near the top choices.

However I reckon near the top would have been Vaux Bridge and Bradley Bridge. Both of which are unsuitable for such a thing.
The Keel Foot Crossing … The KFC
Probably will become known as just “The Footy Bridge”
 
Last edited:
The Keel Foot Crossing … The KFC
Probably will become known as just “The Footy Bridge”
Not sure why everybody getting upset over a name. Look at the Tyne Tunnel or Tyne Tunnel 2, people on here would have wanted to call it say "Regis Le Tunnel" or whatever. Dartford crossing, Forth Bridge, so actually dull as dishwate, Wear footbridge is prob the norm for calling these things.
 
The council clearly have had a name chosen for the bridge for a while. I can’t recall any of those three names being suggested on here or social media. Keel Crossing is the best of a really bad bunch, which they’ve pitted against two other really shit names so it wins.

This should have been an opportunity to have a small nod to somebody from the city that has had a meaningful impact on the world, for example Joseph Swan Way or some iteration of that.
 
The council clearly have had a name chosen for the bridge for a while. I can’t recall any of those three names being suggested on here or social media. Keel Crossing is the best of a really bad bunch, which they’ve pitted against two other really shit names so it wins.

This should have been an opportunity to have a small nod to somebody from the city that has had a meaningful impact on the world, for example Joseph Swan Way or some iteration of that.

‘Wear Crossing’ man!

I get they probably want to avoid sparking anything whatsoever controversial and that becomes a risk if you name if after someone but haway!
 
  • Like
Reactions: SR7
All the choices are appalling

Beacon Bridge- it’s not as if it’s directly near the beacon
Wear Crossing- Boring and it’s a bridge not a crossing which on a river would normally refer to a ferry
Keel Crossing- Same as above but marginally less boring

Crossing does not sit right with me so I'll be calling it the Keel Bridge regardless.

Very poor choice of names but Keel Bridge I can get away with.
 
The council clearly have had a name chosen for the bridge for a while. I can’t recall any of those three names being suggested on here or social media. Keel Crossing is the best of a really bad bunch, which they’ve pitted against two other really shit names so it wins.

This should have been an opportunity to have a small nod to somebody from the city that has had a meaningful impact on the world, for example Joseph Swan Way or some iteration of that.
The council did not choose the names. A panel including Jimmy Montgomery did:

Panel choose shortlist of names for Sunderland's New Wear Crossing​

It's almost time ... to name the bridge. Sunderland's £117million New Wear Crossing is nearing completion - and now the time is right to give it a name that will last for years to come.

The people of Sunderland are being invited to play their part, with the final choice going out to public vote ahead of the crossing opening in the spring.

An independent panel made up of Sunderland people and members of the business community met at the bridge site recently to draw up a final shortlist of three possible names. Members of the public will be able to vote on-line and using a form printed in the Echo. Keep an eye out on social media for #namethebridge.

The option which attracts the most support will become the official name of the New Wear Crossing.

It is hoped the new name will reflect the city's history and reputation as an enterprising and innovative place, while also making a statement about the city's ambitions and aspirations for the future. And with the bridge designed and built to last at least 120 years, its new name must also be able to stand the test of time.

Black Cats legend Jimmy Montgomery was delighted to be invited to join the panel.
"It is an honour," he said."I am Sunderland born and bred - I have lived all my life around this area and seen it develop."

University of Sunderland graduate Dominic Murphy is founder and MD of IT firm Geek Talent, which works to match businesses and employees. "It is a privilege to be asked," he said. "All the engineering careers that have been started here, all the different jobs that have gone into building the bridge, that is a big part of what we do."

The youngest member of the panel was 17-year-old Lucy Robinson, from Moorside, who is one of the city's Tall Ships Race ambassadors. "I am really happy to be here," she said. "It's so rewarding for me to be here as part of this, with all these people who have made such a difference to Sunderland."

Paralympic gold medal swimmer Matt Wylie said: "I feel quite privileged to be here. The bridge is one of the best things that has happened in Sunderland."

One member of the panel has a very personal link to the bridge - civil engineer Amy Wright, part of the construction team on the New Wear Crossing site. "It is very satisfying to see it nearing completion," said Amy, 27, from Fatfield. "I am really proud to have been part of it."

Work began on the New Wear Crossing - Sunderland's first bridge across the River Wear in more than 40 years - in May 2015. It is Phase 2 of the Sunderland Strategic Transport Corridor, which aims to improve links between the A19 and Sunderland City Centre and the Port of Sunderland. The new bridge will also open up land for regeneration along the south side of the river, help to create jobs, and reduce congestion around the city.

Sunderland Echo managing editor Gavin Foster said: "It was great to get together with some of Sunderland's most influential people from a variety of backgrounds and sectors."We had an open and frank discussion and listened to constructive comments. "We didn't consider these names lightly and we're hoping the people of Sunderland will take at least one of them to their hearts and come forward and vote."
 
They could've said to anyone in the world, what should we call this bridge it's crosses the river Wear, and they'd have said errr 'Wear Croosing'...ffs what a name. It should have been the Bradley Bridge. What a missed opportunity to do something great.
 
Back
Top