Humber Bridge Board To Raise Walkway Barriers
The Humber Bridge Board has agreed plans to raise the barriers on the walkways of the Grade One listed structure to increase safety and security for visitors and people using the bridge.
The planned work will see vertical steel posts with horizontal wire attached to the existing barriers to improve welfare for bridge visitors and users, without compromising on the spectacular views.
The announcement follows a feasibility study that got underway in 2019 which included rigorous testing of the proposed design to ensure it will have no detrimental impacts on the bridge, or on pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists.
The design also has to take account of the Grade One listed status of the bridge, which involved discussions with the local Conservation Teams and Historic England. The Board will now submit the proposals to both East Riding of Yorkshire Council and North Lincolnshire Council for Listed Building Consent, which is required before work can go ahead.
Richard Hannigan, Chair of the Humber Bridge Board, said: “Raising the barriers on the Humber Bridge walkways has been the subject of debate for a long time. However, finding a solution that doesn’t detrimentally impact on the bridge has always been the major challenge.
“To overcome this, the Board launched a feasibility study into increasing the height of the existing barriers in 2019 and we’re delighted to report that process has been a success.
“The proposed design will provide a sturdy but lightweight extension that will increase the parapets to 2.7m without impacting on the integrity or performance of the bridge.
“It will not detract from the spectacular views along the Humber Estuary that the bridge affords, and we believe it meets the criteria set down by Historic England as a Grade One listed structure.”
The Humber Bridge Board have allocated a budget £3m for the project, which also includes removal of the old maintenance gantries and have agreed to borrow money to fund the scheme, meaning bridge tolls will not increase to pay for it.
Cllr Hannigan, who is also Deputy Leader of North Lincolnshire Council, added the move would make the bridge safer for everyone who visits it.
“The Humber Bridge Board believes everyone who uses the bridge, whether for commuting or leisure, should be able to do so in the safest possible environment,” he said.
“Now we have found a workable solution to raising the walkway barriers, the Board wants to ensure this important work is carried out.”
ENDS