Work on a major road upgrade that aims to transform Hull is due to start in the summer.
Following the green light from the UK government, the Highways England-led A63 Castle Street scheme is designed to create a better connection between the city centre and Hull’s retail and docks area.
Highways England can now set up a site compound and start work on the ground.
James Leeming, senior project manager, Highways England, said: “This is fantastic news for Hull. We are delighted that the decision has been signed off, and we can now look forward to delivering improvements that will genuinely transform the city.
“These changes will make life considerably easier for road users and pedestrians.”
The project will see the creation of a new junction by lowering the level of the A63 at the Mytongate junction.
Ferensway and Commercial Road will cross the A63, creating a split-level junction.
The eastbound carriageway between Princes Dock Street and Market Place will be widened to three lanes, and a new bridge built over the A63 at Porter Street.
Meanwhile, the city’s new bridge, also funded by Highways England with a £4m contribution from Humber Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), which is to be named after Hull’s first female GP Dr Mary Murdoch, will be unveiled this summer.
It will connect the city centre to the marina, waterfront and fruit market.
The structure is to cross the dual carriageway of the A63, allowing pedestrians and cyclists to safely cross the road.
It will also ease congestion on the A63.
Councillor Daren Hale, portfolio holder for economic regeneration and planning at Hull City Council, said: We are thrilled to see this long-awaited projecting finally given the green light.
“Over the past 20 years the council has worked tirelessly alongside Highways England, our colleagues in the LEP and our local MPs to lobby for this essential upgrade and to ensure this scheme is high on the agenda for the Department for Transport.
“We are pleased that the government has finally recognised how crucial the upgrade to the A63 is, providing a key component of the city’s transport infrastructure improvement and wider long-term regeneration plans.”
The council said it is working with Highways England and Balfour Beatty on what it hopes is the first of many employment opportunities that will become available for local people in the city.
“Now we’ve been given the full go ahead for this significant transport scheme to progress, it is time for the real work to begin,” said Hale.
Read more from CiTTi
https://www.cittimagazine.co.uk/multi-billion-pound-infrastructure-investment-announced/
https://www.cittimagazine.co.uk/flyover-in-leeds-set-for-major-makeover/
