A fairly new bridge replacing an older one which from 1967 had a weight restriction of 8 tons and despite strengthening was demolished in 1994 some time after completion of its replacement. It is a low level bridge of concrete and carries the A196 road from Stakeford to Ashington across the Wansbeck and was planned to carry 17,000 vehicles a day.
There are riverside walks on both river banks and Wansbeck Riverside Country Park on the north side runs east from Sheepwash to the river mouth. Stakeford is said to have taken its name from the old ford marked out with stakes across the mudflats.