£2.5m Bridlington Station Plaza Scheme complete
A £2.5m scheme to transform the entrance to Bridlington Railway Station is now finished.
A £2.5m scheme to transform the entrance to Bridlington Railway Station is now finished – and marks the completion of a major regeneration project for the town.
The Bridlington Station Plaza Scheme involved the creation of a new car park, exit road and a landscaped pedestrian area in front of the station to give passengers a warm welcome to the town.
The East Riding of Yorkshire Council scheme was the final stage of the £13.3m Bridlington Integrated Transport Plan (BridITP2) – a four-year project which has improved access for vehicles and pedestrians across the town centre.
The BridITP2 scheme received £7.55m in funding from East Riding of Yorkshire Council, alongside £5.75m from the Government’s Local Growth Fund, secured by the Humber LEP and part of the Government’s commitment to the Northern Powerhouse.
Work began on the Bridlington Station Plaza Scheme in July last year. Now complete, the upgrade included:
- The creation of a new landscaped, pedestrian area in front of the station with high-quality stone paving, new lighting, tree planting and benches.
- A new exit road from the station, joining up with the Tesco entrance road on Hilderthorpe Road.
- A new customer car park along Station Approach.
- A new area for disabled and short-stay parking near the station entrance, new coach pick-up and drop-of points, and a dedicated taxi rank.
The multi-million pound BridITP2 scheme began in August 2016 and transformed the town centre’s infrastructure through the following improvements:
- The creation of a new Beck Hill road bridge over the Gypsey Race and raising of the road and footpaths to improve town centre access,
- The widening of Hilderthorpe Road to provide a three-lane carriageway, to allow easier and quicker traffic flow,
- The reversing of traffic flow along Manor Street, and making Bridge Street one-way, as well as improving pedestrian facilities,
- The diversion of the Gypsey Race stream,
- New footpaths and cycleways,
- The introduction of a new 20mph zone in the town centre.
The work on the BridITP2 project was carried out by local contractors PBS Construction, on behalf of the council.
Cllr Chris Matthews, the council’s portfolio holder for strategic property and infrastructure, said:
“BridITP2 has been one of the East Riding’s largest ever investments in transport infrastructure and has made a huge difference to Bridlington, both for residents and the thousands of visitors who come to the town each year.
“The attractive new station plaza and the whole transport scheme have revitalised the town centre and made it much easier for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians to get around.
“Residents and businesses have put up with a lot of construction and road works while we finished this project, and I’d like to thank them for their patience and understanding.
“The council has invested millions of pounds in recent years on new facilities and better infrastructure for Bridlington, and this scheme is another great example of its commitment to the town.”
Minister for Regional Growth and Local Government, Luke Hall MP, said:
“We are levelling up transport infrastructure across the country, which is why we backed Bridlington’s Integrated Transport Plan with a £5.75 million Local Growth Fund investment.
“I am delighted that the community can now enjoy improved and more accessible travel around the town.
“This particular scheme to transform the gateway to Bridlington will also boost tourism, allowing the town to showcase its iconic beaches and historic harbour.”
Stephen Parnaby OBE, Chair of the Humber LEP, said:
“We’re thrilled to see the completion of this major regeneration project for Bridlington, which we have been proud to support through the Local Growth Fund.
“The finished work to improve the station plaza will not only support visitors in the town, which will support tourism, but will also make moving around the town easier for residents and will support Bridlington businesses.”