Off Topic Hull City Centre Public Realm Strategy

There's a hell of a lot of work involved in building a footbridge...

A new £11.5m footbridge spanning Hull's busiest road is set to transform the city's waterfront.

The long-awaited crossing over Castle Street will link Princes Quay to Hull Marina.

With construction work due to start next month, here is a quick guide to how it's going to be built.

Timings
The overall project is scheduled to be completed in early 2020, although the main construction period is expected to last eight months.

Piling works
Piling works are required at each side of the A63 to create the foundations for the bridge, the ramps and a new platform over the Marina itself.

Seventeen concrete piles will be driven into the ground directly adjacent to the road.

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The proposed Castle Street footbridge

In addition, on the Marina side 16 steel tubular piles will be sunk into the water. These piles will be pitched and driven from a crane sitting on land and a small floating pontoon will be in the water to allow them to be positioned and guided.

The platform
The platform will be made from pre-cast concrete sections to make it easier to construct over the water.

It will extend the bridge structure into the existing Hull Marina, creating a new boundary. The platform will directly support landscaped terracing with an integrated ramp and a new walkway along the water's edge.

Lightweight high density polystyrene blocks will be used to construct the ramp and the walkway.

Works compounds
The main compound for the project will be based on a site off Neptune Street, near the entrance to Albert Dock.

It will be used for the delivery and storage of most of the materials being used to build the bridge.

Temporary staff accomodation and offices will also be based there along while parking space will be provided for vehicles and heavy equipment.

After the bridge is built, the site is expected to be used as a compound for recovery vehicle drop-off and traffic management during the A63 Castle Street improvement scheme.

Two other compounds will also be set up either side of Castle Street next to where the bridge will be built.

One will be next to Humber Dock Street, the other will be on a site bounded by Waterhouse Lane, Myton Street and Roper Street next to the Bonus Arena.

Construction traffic
Estimated traffic movements for the project are 3,400 to 4,100 vehicles per month at peak construction times.

Most of these will involve staff and sub-contractors using the Neptune Street site.

Highways management
Disruption to traffic flows on Castle Street are going to be inevitable during the construction of the bridge.

Extensive traffic management systems will be used to control the flow of traffic through and around the works.

Some full closures of the A63 and the junction of Humber Dock are likely, although they are expected to be be carried out at night.

Any road closures will be advertised in advance and temporary diversion routes will be signposted in conjunction with Hull City Council.

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The proposed new footbridge over Castle Street

Speed limits on Castle Street will also be introduced near the entrances to the works compounds on the side of both carriageways.

Multiple lorry deliveries to the main construction site will be avoided to keep traffic flowing.

Landscaping
Existing mature planting on the Princes Quay side of Castle Street will be removed to create space for one of the works compounds.

The flower bed boundary next to the Marina will also be removed along with the set of flags of every member state of the European Union.

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The Spurn Lightship

The Spurn Lightship was moved from its berth this week as part of preparations for the scheme.

Screening
Hoarding will be erected to the footpath areas and pedestrian routes to prevent access to main construction site.

The hoarding will be 2.4m high but open views across the former docks will be maintained.

Purpose-built entry points for staff and sub-contractors are also being constructed at the bridge site two compounds.

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The site of the new bridge on Castle Street

Working hours
Between Monday to Friday, normal working hours at the site are expected to be between 7am and 6pm.

Night shifts between Monday to Friday will generally be 6pm to 6am when required. Weekend day shift work Saturday to Sunday will be from 7am to 6pm. Weekend night shift work Saturday to Sunday wil be from 6pm to 6am.

Archaeology
Before construction work starts, a specialist archaeology contractor will excavate two tenches at the site to explore any remains of Hull's western medieval defences.

The trenches will be dug either side of the A63. The archaeology works are a condition of the original planning approval for the bridge scheme.

 

David Burns ‏@bbcburnsy
Hull's street food nights are returning to Trinity Square next year . @HullBID told the Burnsy Show they will use @HullMinster and @TrinityMarket1 . This years nights have brought in nearly 50,000 people to the city. There will also be a Xmas Street Food Night in Trinity.