Queen Alexandra Bridge

Queen Alexandra Bridge is a steel structure spanning the River Wear with three side spans of 61 meters and a main span of 91 meters. It connects Deptford and Southwick districts and carries the A1231 road, with dedicated paths for pedestrians and cyclists along the outer edges.

Construction took place between 1907 and 1909 under Sir William Arrol's direction. It became a vital route for transporting coal from local mines to Sunderland's southern dock facilities.

The bridge connects two neighborhoods shaped by shipbuilding and glassmaking industries that once defined daily life here. Today it stands as a reminder of how these trades formed the identity of the communities it crosses.

The bridge is open to daily traffic and provides safe pathways for pedestrians and cyclists along the outer edges. It is best to cross carefully in poor weather, as the structure is quite exposed above the river.

When completed, this was the heaviest structure in the entire United Kingdom. Engineers used approximately 8,500 tonnes of steel and 350,000 bricks to build it.

Location: Sunderland

Official opening: June 10, 1909

GPS coordinates: 54.91383,-1.40593

Latest update: December 10, 2025 20:08