Keel Crossing named Infrastructure Project of the Year at Constructing Excellence national awards

Keel Crossing, the 250m footbridge over the River Wear in Sunderland, has won Infrastructure Project of the Year at the Constructing Excellence National Awards 2026, contractor VolkerStevin has announced.

Constructing Excellence said the ceremony took place on Friday 6 November at the London Marriott Grosvenor Square Hotel. The awarding body credits the entry to VolkerStevin Infrastructure Limited, Sunderland City Council, Arup and Knight Architects, representing the North East.

The national win follows the project's regional success. VolkerStevin said Keel Crossing took the Infrastructure Project of the Year title at the Constructing Excellence North East Awards, held on Friday 12 June 2026 in Newcastle. Constructing Excellence said national finalists are selected through its regional awards programme.

Ian Cussons, operations director at VolkerStevin, said when the bridge opened: "It is fantastic to see Keel Crossing open this weekend."

The finalists

Keel Crossing was up against entries from across the UK regions in the infrastructure category. According to Constructing Excellence, the other finalists included the Mumbles Coastal Protection Scheme, entered by Knights Brown, Swansea Council and Thames Valley Construction from Wales, and the Canvey Island Southern Shoreline scheme by Balfour Beatty, Jacobs and the Environment Agency from London and the South East.

Bristol Airport Public Transport Interchange, delivered by GriffithsFarrans JV and Bristol Airport, represented the South West.

The bridge

Sunderland City Council's Riverside Sunderland programme said the bridge is 10m wide, spans 250m and sits 30m above the river.

The crossing was first opened temporarily on 22 August so England Red Roses supporters could reach the Stadium of Light for the Women's Rugby World Cup opener, according to the council. The council said the contractor then progressed the works required to open the bridge on a permanent basis, with the official opening set for 1.30pm on Saturday 18 October, in time for football fans heading to the stadium.

Councillor Michael Mordey, leader of Sunderland City Council, said: "The opening of the Keel Crossing is a significant moment for Sunderland."

VolkerStevin said that after the opening, remaining site work included preparing for the reopening of the Coast-to-Coast cycleway.

The scheme has been a long time in the making. In an earlier Riverside Sunderland announcement, the council set out plans for a £31m "smart bridge" that it then expected to open in the first half of 2023. At the time, then council leader Councillor Graeme Miller described the planned crossing as experience-led, combining light, smart technology and design, and said it would be a centrepiece allowing unspoilt views over the river. None of the sources read gives a final outturn cost.

A year of awards

VolkerStevin said the Constructing Excellence title caps a year in which the project was also recognised at the Construction News Awards, the ICE Robert Stephenson Awards, the NCE Bridges Awards and the CIHT Awards.

The contractor said the trophies were welcome but that the people behind the project deserved the real recognition, crediting the project team and supply chain for delivering a high-quality scheme.

At the Construction News Awards, VolkerStevin said, the judges recognised Keel Crossing for its community impact and long-term value for Sunderland.