Spence Associates’ plans to build the country’s tallest bridge were expected to win approval from Sunderland City Council this week — five years after the architect won an RIBA competition to design it

The 324m-long bridge, which is 190m-tall at its highest point, will be the third major road crossing taking traffic in and out of the city centre and has cross-party backing from city councillors.

In a report by the council’s highways committee, ahead of a planning meeting on Thursday, the bridge was described as a “genuinely striking gateway into central Sunderland”.

“It is likely to be an attraction in itself as the tallest bridge in the country, providing the city with an impressive landmark,” the report added.

Architect Stephen Spence said the practice has completed three-quarters of the detailed design work and added: “We hope to complete detailed design work in late summer.”

The practice beat Frank Gehry, Wilkinson Eyre and Marks Barfield to the deal back in 2005, but the scheme has run into planning and cost wrangles.

The entire project, which includes building approach roads and associated infrastructure, has been budgeted at £133 million, with nearly £100 million of that coming from the government.

A city council spokesman said it was confident the money would not fall victim to upcoming spending cuts.

“Subject to the project meeting certain conditions, funding of £98 million will be provided by the Department of Transport.”

The remaining money is being stumped up by the council regeneration body One North East.

Construction is due to start in 2012 and last for two years.

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