Further closures of much-used bridge announced

A much-used bridge linking east and west Hull is facing further closures, the city council has announced.

Drypool Bridge will be fully shut for eight weeks from mid-to-late May as part of a major repair and strengthening programme. It will also close to vehicles this weekend to allow for emergency work to be carried out, the council said.

It follows an initial closure between September and November, which was lifted to allow the bridge to remain open during the busy Christmas period.

Councillor Mark Ieronimo, cabinet portfolio holder for transport and infrastructure, said the council was working hard to minimise the impact on daily travel.

The authority said the work starting in May was part of a wider investment in Hull's transport infrastructure, aimed at "futureproofing" key routes and preserving the city's heritage.

Ieronimo said: "Drypool Bridge has served Hull for generations and these repairs will make sure it continues to be safe and reliable for decades to come.

"The council said when this work began there would be the need for a further closure, so I am pleased we are able to give residents plenty of notice about when this will take place.

"We understand that another full closure will cause disruption, which is why we've worked hard to keep the bridge open whenever possible."

The council, in partnership with local contractors, has been working to fix the bridge since routine inspections in 2024 revealed the need for essential repairs.

Andy Thompson, director of bridges at Mason Clark Associates, said despite "significant progress" being made during the initial stages of work, the full closure was required to access some of the most "critical areas requiring attention".

The overnight closure on Sunday 21 December will allow for emergency carriageway repairs.

The council said a section of surfacing to the carriageway had deteriorated due to the recent cold weather and a temporary repair "must be carried out imminently".

To ensure the safety of the contractors working on-site, the bridge would be closed to all traffic from 18:00 GMT on Sunday until 06:00 on Monday, weather dependent. Pedestrian access will be maintained, the council added.

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