WATCH: Drone footage of new Wear bridge taking shape

Earlier this week, Brian Priest, 37, from Hill View, and his daughter Brooke, nine, took his drone camera along to Castletown and flew it over the construction of the new bridge, which crosses the River Wear between Wessington Way and European Way, in Pallion.

Brian first captured some footage of the bridge, the first to be built over the Wear in Sunderland for more than 40 years, back in March, with his latest film showing just how much progress has been made.

The sales executive for Toyota, in Newcastle Road, said: “Because of the position of the bridge it’s quite difficult to view its construction from land, so this gives you a chance to see how they’re progressing.”

Brian, who is also dad to Sophie, 18, said: “I did a video in March. There wasn’t as much to see then, but after I uploaded the video on YouTube it generated a lot of interest.

“I bought the drone earlier in the year as a present to myself and it’s a great way of getting some unusual shots of local landmarks, such as Penshaw Monument.

“It can travel for about two miles if it’s unobstructed, like at sea.”

Work has begun to construct the deck of the bridge, which is being built in two sections.

The first section will be slowly launched out across the river in September, in readiness for the arrival of the main A-frame pylon – which is the centrepiece of the new bridge – towards the end of the year. The second half of the deck will then be launched later during the winter.

The new Wear crossing, which is scheduled to open in spring 2018, is part of the wider strategic transport plan to link the Port of Sunderland and city centre with the A19.

Twice the height of Nelson’s Column, it will have two lanes of traffic in each direction, plus dedicated cycle ways and footpaths along its full length.

The name has not been decided yet, but it will have a historic and heritage link after the public had their say on a theme.