The major repair and strengthening of Drypool Bridge in Hull has reached a significant milestone, with the bridge now reopen and work entering the next phase.
Esh Construction is working in partnership with Hull City Council and Mason Clark Associates to deliver the project which got underway in July this year.
The vital crossing between east and west Hull has been fully closed to traffic and pedestrians for 10.5 weeks while the bridge remained in the raised position to accommodate the essential repairs. With work completed on programme, the bridge reopened last week (27 November) under traffic management and lane narrowing measures.
Michael Sherrard, Construction Manager at Esh Construction, said: “We have carefully planned the programme of works to minimise disruption wherever possible, ensuring the bridge is closed only when necessary to complete repairs safely and efficiently.
“Reopening Drypool Bridge under traffic management is a significant milestone that will help keep Hull moving while we continue to tackle the complexities of this important project.”
Drypool Bridge is a Scherzer rolling bascule bridge built in the early 1960s. The first phase of the project focussed on the southern third of the bridge deck’s east fixed span, where the surfacing and nosing has been removed, repairs carried out, and more than 1,500 steel dowels have been installed and strength tested. The steel dowels tie the existing bridge deck into new concrete pavement, with over 16m3 poured ahead of the bridge reopening.
Behind the scenes under the bridge deck – where some areas are just 1.4m high – defective concrete and rebar has been removed, and jacks and stanchions installed to support the bridges load. With loading support in place, several concrete columns have been removed via wire saw cutting and then reconstructed, alongside general concrete repairs undertaken throughout the deck.
Hydrodemolition works – which involves high pressure water jets being used to break up and remove the concrete – have been carried out on transverse beams which will be repaired later in the programme.
At lower level, silt removal has been completed to allow for inspection works and cathodic protection works to be carried out further below the bridge.
The major repair programme is required to ensure the bridge’s safety and longevity after a routine inspection discovered that several of the load-bearing columns have significantly deteriorated. The essential work forms part of a wider investment in Hull’s transport infrastructure, aimed at futureproofing key routes and preserving the city’s heritage.
Councillor Mark Ieronimo, cabinet portfolio holder for transport and infrastructure at Hull City Council, said: “Thanks to the excellent collaboration between the council and its contractors, we have been able to complete this first phase of works and re-open the bridge on time – providing a timely boost for the local economy as we head into the busy Christmas and New Year period.”
Esh Construction and Mason Clark Associates commenced the early contractor involvement (ECI) phase for the key city structure in June 2024 which paved the way for detailed investigations into the bridge’s condition and the design and construction programme being developed for the project.
Andy Thompson, Director of Bridges at Mason Clark Associates, said: “Drypool Bridge presents a unique set of engineering challenges, with much of the work taking place in confined spaces beneath the deck and around key structural elements. Our team continues to work meticulously with Esh to deliver high-quality repairs that will restore the bridge’s integrity and extend its service life for many years to come.”
An additional full closure will be necessary in 2026 in order to complete the repair work.
For more information about Esh Construction, visit www.eshgroup.co.uk
We have carefully planned the programme of works to minimise disruption wherever possible, ensuring the bridge is closed only when necessary to complete repairs safely and efficiently.
“Reopening Drypool Bridge under traffic management is a significant milestone that will help keep Hull moving while we continue to tackle the complexities of this important project.”
