Highways agency defends multiple major roadworks

View from a bridge showing cars driving through rain on the A63 in East Yorkshire with central barriers removed and a 40mph speed sign
Image caption,

Work is being carried out to replace safety barriers and lighting on the A63 in East Yorkshire

  • Published

National Highways has defended upgrading the A63 in East Yorkshire while disruption is caused by work on other major roads in the area.

Restrictions are in place while safety barriers are replaced between South Cave and North Ferriby.

It comes on top of road closures on the motorway near Goole for bridge repairs and disruption in Hull city centre as part of the Castle Street redevelopment.

Graeme Wood, from the agency, said it was important to "invest in maintaining and renewing the strategic road network".

Mr Wood said that as well as replacing the safety barriers new lighting was being installed as well.

"The roadworks and the majority of the construction work is taking place overnight and that's done deliberately to reduce the customer impact during daytime," he said.

"Because we've removed the central reservation safety barrier, we have implemented a 40mph speed restriction to ensure customer safety.

"But I can understand people may feel the number of works is too much in this area."

Castle Street in Hull city centre is undergoing a £355m redesign that involves lowering the level of the road to create a split-level junction at Mytongate.

Mr Woods said work is ahead of schedule and should be completed by March next year.

Repairs are also being carried out on the M62 Ouse Bridge, which began in March 2022 after damaged joints were found.

The work has been delayed a number of times but should be completed this month.

Image source, BBC
Image caption,

Graeme Wood, from National Highways, said the roadworks were carefully planned

Mr Wood added that work is planned to be carried out in the quickest possible time.

"All of the work we do is carefully considered to be both efficient and cost effective," he said.

"We don't want to cause disruption for the public, but we need to complete the renewals and maintenance of the strategic road network."

Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here, external.