Milestone moments for A63 Castle Street upgrade

A major upgrade that will transform travel in Hull has taken several significant steps forward.

The A63 Castle Street scheme will improve port access, reduce congestion and enhance safety as well as connections between the city centre and tourist and recreational facilities.

With work set to finish next Spring, all eyes are on the £355 million project as progress becomes increasingly visible.

National Highways is creating a new junction by lowering the level of the A63 at the Mytongate junction. Ferensway and Commercial Road will cross the A63 creating a split-level junction. The eastbound carriageway will be widened between Princes Dock Street and Market Place, and a new bridge at Porter Street.

Since February, 4.5 million litres of concrete have been poured to complete the base of the underpass, which has been built with 14 slabs.

And props installed more than 18 months ago to support construction of the base and walls have been removed. Since they were put in place in December 2023 the team have removed 45,000 cubic metres of earth during excavation of the underpass – the equivalent of 3,000 full lorry loads.

Isaac Banfield, Assistant Project Manager – Major Projects, Enhancements at National Highways, said: 

“Completing the 14 pours and removing the support props are milestone moments which required a great deal of planning.

“We are now able to progress to the next key phases of work on the underpass, including the wall panels.

“The underpass section will evolve over the next few months, from structural works to roadworks, which is great progress. There will be some big changes visually as we start to the see the roadworks take shape and work towards completing the split-level junction and connection from Ferensway to Commercial Road.”

Elsewhere on the scheme, the drainage has been connected underground between the underpass and the dedicated pumping station next to Trinity Burial Ground. At the burial ground itself, redevelopment work continues at pace including work on brick walls, landscaping, planting and pathways. The site will be returned as a public space, featuring a number of the original headstones.

The team have also planted hundreds of trees, plants and shrubs at William St Gardens. New footways and community spaces have been created, and play equipment installed to provide a safe, accessible area for residents to enjoy.