UK transport secretary approves new Sunderland bridge project

UK Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin has approved a planning inspector's report for a new bridge across the Wear in Sunderland. Four firms, reported to be 1146 Balfour Beatty, 2717 Ferrovial, 6821 Graham Construction and 5177 Vinci, have been shortlisted for the US $ 200 million (£120mn) project. The tendering process is expected to take six months, suggesting construction could start in spring 2013. The bridge will take around three years to complete. The new crossing, from Castletown to Pallion, will be the tallest bridge in England.