Perhaps - and I’m not really interested in an argument between competing councillors or the £30k, but, as another thought experiment, imagine if it had been completed in line with the architects programme (in 2024).
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Keel Crossing [opened 18.10.25] - compendium thread
- Thread starter 6inarow
- Start date
tunstallhill
Striker
Some quotes from you on this thread, and you wonder why people are calling you out -
"not one of you has been able to come up with an explanation of why the bridge has taken so long"
"I think the rate of progress has been poor and that’ll be down to a mixture of poor procurement and poor practice."
"none of this answers why the bridge was not completed months earlier"
"the bridge project seems to have taken far, far longer than it could have done"
"think it quite likely that the process could have been improved and streamlined"
Just unsubstantiated, Sunderland corruption Facebook comment page -esque , nonsense
dancingradio
Central Defender
Hes a lawyer and a know it all . What a combination
TexasMackem
Striker
If I'd received an invite to tender for a new bridge construction with a fixed completion date of 2024, I'd simply not reply. You can't apply the same standards to a bridge as laying a driveway.
I deliver electrical infrastructure projects using the NEC4 contract framework, and missing agreed deadlines means compensation events and consequently financial risk. No ta.
I stipulate things in the initial program like the testing and commissioning will take a week, in 2 years time. The painting of plant, two weeks, in 3 years time. I have no idea whether I'll be able to get the staff, or the network outage, or even if the painting will be needed at that point, but the program gives me an end date which is expected to evolve as the project progresses.
I deliver electrical infrastructure projects using the NEC4 contract framework, and missing agreed deadlines means compensation events and consequently financial risk. No ta.
I stipulate things in the initial program like the testing and commissioning will take a week, in 2 years time. The painting of plant, two weeks, in 3 years time. I have no idea whether I'll be able to get the staff, or the network outage, or even if the painting will be needed at that point, but the program gives me an end date which is expected to evolve as the project progresses.
Sgt Pepper
Striker
What have the Sunderland Global Media civil engineering division experts had to say on this matter?
I don’t know what that is; I don’t have Facebook.
Are you reacting simply because I’m questioning the Council? Are we not supposed to do that?
I stand by those quotes - in light of the architects’ published programme which expected completion in 2024.
dancingradio
Central Defender
They are just finishing their sunday morning drive thru takeaway meal and then they are going to link up with Phil to review the construction program and provide a clear project review and improvement plan
tunstallhill
Striker
So tell us , how would you have " streamlined the process " ?
If you’re not going to engage with the points I’ve made (especially the architects’ programme) I’m not going to engage with your posts on this thread.
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tunstallhill
Striker
I'm responding directly to quotes you have made. How is that not engaging with your points you've made ? I'm just asking you to expand on them
Was only signed off in march 2023 and it while this council article does not give an absolute date it says 2025 for completion.https://www.sunderland.gov.uk/article/27020/New-Wear-Footbridge-moves-ahead
And the Keel bridge was always going to have special unknown building issues because of the river and possible storm conditions during the build period... Perhaps some people forgot about the storm also.
A few here... from Google etc
The Keel Crossing footbridge in Sunderland faced logistical issues during construction due to the difficult site conditions and the need for precise coordination of heavy equipment on the River Wear. Major sections of the bridge had to be fabricated off-site in Belgium and then transported by sea and barged upriver for installation.
Details on the river logistical challenges:
- Challenging site: The location on the River Wear presented a difficult environment for construction.
- Precise coordination: The heavy-lift operations required "precise coordination" of equipment and river operations.
- Weather disruptions: Crews faced disruptions from storms while installing the deck panels.
- Fabricated off-site: Large sections of the bridge were built in Belgium and transported to the site by barge.
- Heavy lifts: The final and largest 105-metre steel section was lifted into place using strand-jack hydraulic systems.
You’ve quoted some of my posts and dismissed them as “Just unsubstantiated, Sunderland corruption Facebook comment page -esque , nonsense”
My questions around why it seemed to me that the project was taking longer than expected/necessary has been substantiated by the architect’s programme which said that the project would be complete in 2024. I shared that on this thread a few posts up and you’ve made no comment on it.
It wasn’t completed then and I’m simply trying to understand why.
Do you agree that the programme included a 2024 completion date?
Do you agree that we are now in the tenth month of 2025?
Do you agree that the project is, therefore, late?
Strange that the architects programme was 2022 to 2024 then.
What do you mean by ‘signed off’?
Given the go ahead by the council to proceed and agree the deal of course.
cosmicchris00
Striker
Having worked in programme management for 25 years I can state that the current status of the bridge has all the markings of a commercial wrangle
When project progress effectively stops, as this one seemingly has, the cause is usually a gone bust or walk-off scenario by one of the contractors.
I had a look when dropping the young 'un off at that their University and its looking like the surfacing contract completion is all that's really holding it up. With all the materials at hand it looked like less than a weeks work - possible 2 or 3 days.
If I was the client on such high profile piece of infrastructure I'd tell the principal to get it open and talk afterwards.
When project progress effectively stops, as this one seemingly has, the cause is usually a gone bust or walk-off scenario by one of the contractors.
I had a look when dropping the young 'un off at that their University and its looking like the surfacing contract completion is all that's really holding it up. With all the materials at hand it looked like less than a weeks work - possible 2 or 3 days.
If I was the client on such high profile piece of infrastructure I'd tell the principal to get it open and talk afterwards.
Sgt Pepper
Striker
What is this based on? Every time I pass or see photos such as the ones @RestlessNatives often posts, there are workers, wagons, Cherry pickers or a mix of them on it. I doubt they’re on there being paid to do nowt.
As in finally all done and dusted and the people building it can make a start on it. Seems like youre blaming them for lack of progress but seems like they are on track as far as I can see.
It could have been a few different things but, fair enough. Worth remembering that outline planning permission was granted in 2021.
tunstallhill
Striker
I would like to know if nothing else, what the construction programme date of completion was that the main contractor signed up to. Unless we know that , we don't know whether it's behind schedule
The architect can say what they want 5 years prior to getting on site , it's the main contractor who will know how long it takes to to build and will sign a contract that reflects that.
None of us know what the original date of completion that the main contractor signed to, so none of us know whether they are within that program
According to a quick Google search , the design wasn't finaled till 2023. So not sure how the architect can say, prior to that, that it would be completed in 2024.
If VolkerStevin are behind programme , then I'd also like to know why .
But none of us know if they are behind programs
