Sunderland’s eagerly awaited Keel Crossing, also known as the new Wear footbridge, briefly opened to the public on Friday, 22 August 2025, providing a unique first-time opportunity to walk across the bridge.
It opened at 10:30 AM and was available to pedestrians throughout the day. This temporary opening was precisely timed to coincide with the opening match of the Women’s Rugby World Cup, making it easier for around 42,000 fans to travel from the city centre to the Stadium of Light.
To mark the occasion, the bridge featured in a community fan parade, which began behind City Hall at 4:45 PM, passed along High Street West to Keel Square, and then crossed the Keel Crossing toward the stadium. The parade ended nearby at about 5:45 PM. Later that evening, the crossing served as a dramatic backdrop for a fireworks display around 10:15 PM. With the day’s festivities concluded, the bridge was closed again to allow for final cosmetic touches such as painting and lighting to be completed in preparation for its permanent opening.
The temporary opening was a watershed moment not just logistically, but emotionally. Architect and TV presenter George Clarke was among those privileged to be among the first to walk the bridge on that day. He hailed it as “better than Wembley Way,” drawing a comparison with the iconic route used by fans on matchdays at Wembley Stadium. For many, the ability to walk across the bridge, even briefly, symbolised a tangible sign of Sunderland’s ongoing transformation.
Constructed across the River Wear, the Keel Crossing stands approximately 30 metres above the water, stretches about 260 metres, and is around 10 metres wide, making it an impressive civic landmark. It forms the linchpin of the Riverside Sunderland regeneration project, aiming to knit together key areas on either side of the river, including Keel Square and the Sheepfolds neighbourhood near the Stadium of Light. For pedestrians and cyclists, the bridge will eventually provide a safe and convenient new link across the city, while visually it has already become one of Sunderland’s defining structures.
The name “Keel Crossing” was unveiled on 11 June 2025, chosen via a public vote. The name pays homage to Sunderland’s shipbuilding heritage, with the “keel” representing the backbone of a ship. This nod to the city’s industrial past ties the bridge not only to Sunderland’s future development but also to the generations who worked along the river building vessels that were exported across the globe.
While the bridge has now had its one-day opening, the official permanent opening date has not yet been confirmed. Final cosmetic works and finishing touches are still underway, led by contractor VolkerStevin. Construction began in 2023, with the main structure erected by late 2024. Now, finishing interior works and aesthetic details remain before the bridge can open full-time.
In summary, 22 August 2025 marked the first and so far only day that members of the public were able to cross the Keel Crossing, timed with the global spotlight of the Women’s Rugby World Cup. The day included a fan parade, thousands of visitors, and a spectacular evening fireworks display. Since then, the bridge has been closed again while the final stages of work are completed, with its official opening date still pending. Even so, the crossing has already made a major impression, not only as a practical new route but also as a striking symbol of Sunderland’s regeneration and pride in its heritage.
