Hylton Viaduct

The Hylton Viaduct is a steel box girder structure that spans the River Wear, linking North Hylton with South Hylton in Sunderland via the A19 road. The bridge provides a clearance height of 15 meters above the water and accommodates both vehicle traffic and pedestrian access across the river.

Construction of the steel structure began in the late 1960s but was delayed until 1971 due to national safety concerns about box girder design. The bridge opened in 1974, replacing an older transportation method that had served the crossing for many years.

Jean Temple, who worked as a shorthand typist and secretary, performed the official opening ceremony of the bridge in September 1974.

Access to the bridge is via the A19, and the structure is available to vehicles and pedestrians daily. Visitors should expect busy traffic during peak hours, as this is a major transportation route in the region.

A chain ferry service operated at this exact location until 1915 before the bridge was built. This shift reveals how river crossings in the area evolved from small-scale operations to major infrastructure.

Inception: 1974

Official opening: 1974

Made from material: steel

GPS coordinates: 54.90440,-1.45820

Latest update: December 14, 2025 11:41