Sunderland City Council in the UK has seeking bids to build a new River Wear Bridge and associated highway work which is estimated to cost between $129m and $177m.

The bridge is part of the Sunderland Strategic Transport Corridor (SSTC) project for a new route from the A19 into central Sunderland.

The project includes two parts, involving construction of a bridge over the River Wear and its associated approach roads to link the existing highway network.

The contract also involves the construction of highway improvement works to Wearmouth Bridge southern bridgehead.

The bridge will be 336m long, 190m high lining Pallion and North Hylton, and was designed by the local architect Stephen Spence with engineers Techniker.

Bids can be submitted until 1 December, work on the project will start in October 2012 and is expected to last three years.