Humber Bridge shuts for only the second time in history

ONE OF the region’s best-known landmarks, the Humber Bridge, closed completely for only the second time in its history as the storm raged.

Although the bridge regularly bans high-sided vehicles and pedestrians during inclement weather, it has never had to close completely because of the weather since it first opened in 1981.

There has been one previous closure in the structure’s history, but it was not weather-related.

In 2016, the bridge was shut when a HGV was left dangling over the edge of the footway after a crash.

Earlier yesterday, the bridge was closed to high-sided and vulnerable vehicles, but this was later upgraded to a full closure to all traffic and pedestrians for four hours. It later reopened to cars only.

The design of the bridge ensures that the road deck usually remains stable during high winds. It is made up of 124 steel boxes in the formation of an upside-down aircraft wing.

Humber Bridge Board head of engineering Andrew Arundel had earlier warned drivers that safety is paramount and that if the predicted gusts of 60 to 80mph materialise then access to the bridge would have to be prevented.

The Humber Bridge Board’s website and social media accounts were updated regularly throughout the weekend.

If access to the bridge is blocked, then the distance for motorists between Hull and Grimsby increases by around 40 miles and drivers have to travel via Goole.

Before the Humber Bridge opened, commuters had to cross the river on the Humber Ferry or a hovercraft service, or drive to Goole on a road that was singlecarriageway until the 1970s and cross at the Ouse. The extending of the M62 did improve the area’s connectivity in the years before the bridge was built.