Extra work carried out on Hull's £7m Sculcoates Bridge

Sculcoates Bridge in Hull was shut in 2020 after an inspection found it was unsafe for vehicles to use

Extra work has been carried out on a closed bridge as part of a £7m restoration project.

Grade II-listed Sculcoates Bridge in Hull was shut in 2020 after an inspection found it was unsafe for vehicles to use.

The additional work includes surveys for unexploded bombs and inspections of the bridge deck and swing mechanism.

Built in 1874, it is the oldest of the city's 14 bridges across the River Hull.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), a firm of engineering consultants has been conducting preparatory works ahead of what is expected to be a full refurbishment.

The £332,000 contract was announced in March 2022 and, at that time, the first phase was expected to take nine months.

Since then, nine pieces of work, which were not originally planned for, have been carried out at a cost of £86,000.

River walls and timber fences have been inspected and a review has been undertaken into the "goalposts" used to try to prevent oversized vehicles from using the bridge.

The Grade II-listed bridge was opened in 1874 and is the oldest bridge across the River Hull

Hull City Council said the additional work was paid for from the existing budget for the bridge.

"After these additional works are complete, the final design of the bridge will be considered by cabinet before progressing with the refurbishment," a spokesperson said.

Previously, councillors have spoken of their hope of returning the historic bridge to its former glory.

The long-term plan for the bridge is likely to see measures being introduced to ban certain vehicles from using it to protect the structure from overloading, while access could also be reduced to a single lane, controlled by traffic lights.

According to the LDRS, there is no date for when the bridge will reopen.