National Highways’ A63 Castle Street project has reached another milestone with the footbridge being lifted in place this week.

The new bridge is a major step forward in National Highways’ £355m A63 Castle Street scheme to improve safety and create better connections in Hull city centre.  

The bridge was lifted into place with a 200-tonne crane. Two stair areas and seven ramp sections weighing up to 12 tonnes have been installed to the north of the A63, using a crane weighing in at 100 tonnes.   

The 37m, emerald-green structure creates a new pedestrian route over the A63, connecting Porter Street on the north side of the major route to St James Street to the south.  

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

More than 500 cubic meters of concrete have created the 55-tonne footbridge’s foundation and up to 140 tonnes of steelwork have been used to build the ramp and stairs.    

The bridge is expected to open to pedestrians and cyclists early this summer. 

Frances Oliver, project manager at National Highways, said: “We are delighted that the Porter Street footbridge has now been safely lifted into place. When it’s open, it will create a fantastic new route, providing greater safety for pedestrians and cyclists crossing the A63.  

“It’s an important part of the wider scheme to transform this area of the city centre, creating huge, longer-term benefits for Hull. 

“We appreciate the work has created disruption to pedestrians and cyclists who have had to follow diversions to cross the A63 dual carriageway. We would like to say a huge thank-you to everybody for their patience while this work has been carried out.”