A SURVEY into the site of a proposed new crossing of the River Wear at Sunderland has found an overwhelming majority in favour of a bridge at Claxheugh.

More than 73 per cent of respondents favoured a crossing at the site near South Hylton, compared to 15 per cent for the alternative crossing site at Deptford, closer to the city centre.

Details of the preferred route, which will take traffic from the A19 into the city centre, will go before Sunderland City Council's cabinet on Wednesday.

Phil Barrett, director of the authority's development and regeneration directorate, said: "This route will be a high quality strategic transport link in the city, attracting new jobs and investment.

"It will provide a 21st Century gateway to the city centre and enhance the urban environment.

"Projects of this scale and nature however, take many years to bring to fruition and there remains a great deal of work to do to firmly develop the scheme and to secure the funding needed to build it."

A planning application will be submitted in the summer.

If the plan is approved, work is expected to start in 2008 and the new bridge is likely to open in 2012.