Work set to begin on new footbridge over Hull’s A63

A new 37 metre long footbridge, as part of a £355m investment into Hull city centre, is set to be installed over the A63 to improve safety and reduce congestion.

Highways England will start work on the Porter Street footbridge this week (28/06/2021) – further down the A63 from Murdoch’s Connection, a newly-opened, stunning structure which links pedestrians and cyclists from the city centre to the marina, waterfront and fruit market.

This extra footbridge, close to where major improvements are being carried out to the Mytongate junction, is an integral part of the overall A63 Castle Street major project, which will support Hull’s economic growth, improving journeys to and from the city centre, and will help the nearby port to thrive.

Fran Oliver, project manager at Highways England said:

“The new Porter Street footbridge, like the popular Murdoch’s Connection to the east, will allow pedestrians and cyclists to safely cross the dual carriageway and ease congestion on the A63.

“The existing pedestrian crossing at Porter Street will be closed from mid-July to allow us to install the new footbridge. We’d urge people to follow the official diversion routes and not to cross in unsafe places while this important work takes place.

“I appreciate everyone’s patience while we carry out this work which, like the rest of the Castle Street improvements, will have huge, long-term benefits for the city.”

The summer phase of work will involve drilling 26 concrete piles, 28 metres into the ground, to support the foundations of the new bridge. This part of the work will be carried out during the day between 7.30am and 6pm.

Large drilling rigs will be used to push 900mm tubes into the ground, with the holes drilled under water, to reduce the noise levels.

In July the existing pedestrian crossing will be closed and people will be diverted to an alternative crossing. This will allow us to start work on the bridge which will be in the same location as the old pedestrian crossing.

Then 500 cubic meters of concrete will create its foundation before the lifting of the bridge takes place in autumn. The structure, which will be transported to Hull, weighs around 50 tonnes and will be lifted into its new home during a weekend closure. Up to 140 tonnes of steelwork will also be used to create the ramp and stairs.