Ship on the move as £11m footbridge takes shape across main road

A HISTORIC ship is to move ahead of work to install a new £11m footbridge over one of Hull’s main roads.

The Spurn Lightship will shift to a temporary new berth in Hull Marina this September as part of the £393m plans to upgrade the A63 to Hull docks.

The 18-month programme to install the bridge in front of Princes Quay is due to start in October, reconnecting the city centre with its waterfront, ahead of the main A63 upgrade.

It should be completed by March 2020.

Long-suffering users of the road will be concerned whether the work will add to congestion. The route takes 54,000 vehicles a day and any lane closures swiftly paralyse the system.

A briefing by Highways England earlier this year said there would be no lane closures between 6am and 8pm from Monday to Saturday, with two lanes maintained in each direction at all times.

Full or partial road closures would only happen overnight or at weekends for “certain essential works”, the agency said.

Officials added yesterday that they could not comment further until a contractor is appointed this summer.

The Lightship will stay in the marina until 2021 and is set to receive specialist conservation work, subject to funding.

The vessel will then be moved to a new permanent home on the marina as part of the £27.4m Hull: Yorkshire’s Maritime City programme.

Hull Council’s deputy leader Coun Daren Hale said visitors would not be allowed on board this summer – but added that he looked forward to the ship’s return with rejuvenated exhibitions and longer opening hours.