Scale Lane Bridge in Hull has reopened to pedestrians this afternoon (Thursday, March 6), Hull City Council has announced.
During a routine inspection last year, it was identified that several of the structure’s bearings needed replacing. Consequently, the council decided to swing the bridge in favour of river traffic, which has priority by law.
Since then, a contractor has conducted thorough investigations and confirmed that the bridge is safe for pedestrian use. Although the work was initially expected to be complete by Friday, February 28, due to the complexity of the structure, the contractor dedicated an extra four days to ensure the investigations were carried out to the highest standard.
To extend the bridge’s operational life and minimise the risk of future unplanned closures, the council will now consider the contractors’ recommendations and plan a comprehensive maintenance scheme to be implemented later this year. In the meantime, the bridge will only be swung for essential river traffic and emergencies.
Councillor Mark Ieronimo, cabinet portfolio holder for transportation, roads and highways, said: “We understand the importance of Scale Lane Bridge to our residents and businesses, and appreciate the impact this closure has had. However, the safety of our citizens is always our top priority, and we had to ensure the bridge was safe before reopening it to pedestrians.
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“We will now take appropriate action and develop a comprehensive repair programme, in collaboration with our contractor, to ensure the structure’s longevity and safety. This will help mitigate any future closures and disruption.
“As with all the city’s bridges, Scale Lane is a complex structure, with intricate engineering processes and we are keen to futureproof it for generations to come. We thank residents for their patience and understanding.”
The council will provide further updates and details about the proposed repair scheme for Scale Lane Bridge – including timeframes for delivery – once the programmed is confirmed. Scale Lane Bridge, which connects Hull's Old Town and The Deep, was officially opened in June 2013, around eight years after construction began.
It has won numerous awards for its design and was listed by Architectural Digest (USA) as one of the “World's 20 Most Impressive Bridges”. It is the only moving bridge in the world which people can ride on while it swings open.
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