Major city bridge to reopen after repairs

Drypool Bridge, which can be raised to allow shipping along the River Hull, closed in September

The first phase of repairs to a major bridge across the River Hull has been completed, the city council has said.

Drypool Bridge in the city centre closed on 15 September for a "major repair and strengthening programme".

Hull City Council said the bridge would reopen to two-way traffic and pedestrians from 20:00 GMT on Thursday.

The closure led to some disruption to traffic, with a number of local businesses saying it had negatively impacted trade.

Work included replacing the affected bearings, adding anti-corrosion coating to parts of the metalwork and waterproofing the road deck.

Councillor Mark Ieronimo, cabinet portfolio holder for transport and infrastructure, said it marked an important milestone for the scheme.

He said: "Thanks to the excellent collaboration between the council and its contractors, we have been able to complete this first phase of works and reopen the bridge on time – providing a boost for the local economy as we head into the busy Christmas period."

The council previously acknowledged the impact the work was having on daily travel and said it was working hard to minimise disruption by using measures such as AI technology to control traffic.

An additional full closure would be necessary in 2026 for further work to be undertaken, although a date has yet to be confirmed, the council said.

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