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Hull City Council has confirmed that repair and strengthening works on Drypool Bridge will begin this month.

Following the receipt of a Marine Management Organisation (MMO) licence last week, main contractor Esh Construction will begin setting up the site compound on the former Rank Hovis site in Hull from Monday 7^th July, in preparation for the repair works on Drypool Bridge.

Drypool Bridge is one of seven bridges across the River Hull in the city. It is a Scherzer rolling bascule bridge, built in 1961 to replace the original 1889 swing bridge. The deck was replaced in 2001 and footways in 2012 but a more recent routine inspection revealed that several of the load-bearing columns under the bridge have significantly deteriorated and a major repair programme is required to ensure its safety and longevity.

Esh Construction and project manager Mason Clark Associates began the early contractor involvement (ECI) phase for the structure in June 2024. Since then, detailed investigations of the bridge’s condition have been carried out and a design and construction programme prepared for the £8m repair and strengthening project.

Councillor Mark Ieronimo, cabinet portfolio holder for transport and infrastructure at Hull City Council, said: “Fixing Hull’s roads and infrastructure is a top priority for the council. That’s why we have a real plan to invest in the city’s bridges. Drypool Bridge has served Hull for generations, and this repair programme is vital to making sure it remains a safe, reliable route for residents.”

He added: “The start of the repair work is a huge step forward. Esh Construction and Mason Clark Associates will deliver the project to the highest standards.”

Esh Construction divisional director Steven Garrigan said: “A significant amount of work has gone on behind the scenes during the early contractor involvement (ECI) phase therefore we are pleased to reach this latest milestone. We look forward to repairing and preserving this important structure for future generations.”

Andy Thompson, director of bridges at Mason Clark Associates said: “After over a year of design, and having completed extensive investigations and consultations to gain all the necessary permits to undertake the works, it is great that work will be starting on strengthening this structure.”

The work on Drypool Bridge is part of a five-year plan to improve many of the city’s bridges, statues, monuments, and fountains that was approved by the city council’s cabinet last month.

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