Work on the major project will get underway next month
An artist’s impression of how the new off-road cycle scheme could look on Freetown Way, Hull(Image: Hull City Council)
Hull City Council has announced it has appointed a contractor to get underway with the upcoming Freetown Way project. Balfour Beatty has been appointed to make a start on the scheme which will see the return of two lanes of traffic in each direction as well as the development of off-road cycling facilities.
The mayor city centre road, which is one of Hull’s busiest routes, was reduced to just one lane in each direction in 2020. However, from April, work to reverse this will take place.
In addition to returning Freetown Way to its previous configuration, the scheme will also see the footways on both sides of the road widened, between Witham and Blundell’s Corner, to accommodate safe, off-road cycle tracks, providing separated areas for both people cycling and pedestrians.
The scheme, which is part-funded by an allocation from Active Travel England’s Active Travel Fund, will also see cycle-optimised protected signals (CYCLOPS) junctions installed at Blundell’s Corner and Witham, as well as Freetown Way’s junctions with Wright Street, Charles Street, Caroline Street / Worship Street, and George Street.
The initial works will include the removal of cycle wands currently on the carriageway, with appropriate traffic management put in place. The council has confirmed that this phase of works will also include:
- surface water drainage surveys
- cross-carriageway ducting
- site compound setup
- ground penetrating radar (GPR) surveys to identify utilities
- trial strips to check for utilities
- erection of advance works signs.
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Councillor Mark Ieronimo, cabinet portfolio holder for transport and infrastructure, said: “We said that we would listen to our residents, and we have. They told us that they wanted Freetown Way turned back to two lanes of traffic and that they wanted more off-road cycling facilities and that is exactly what we are doing.
“We appreciate how eagerly anticipated this scheme has been, so appointing Balfour Beatty to deliver these advanced works is an important milestone. We are also aware of how vitally important it is that these works are planned well so that we can keep any potential disruption to a minimum, especially given the fact we have other important schemes ongoing on the city’s highway network, such as the council’s repair and strengthening works on Drypool Bridge and the soon-to-be-complete A63 improvements by National Highways.”
To find all the planning applications, traffic diversions, road layout changes, alcohol licence applications and more, visit the Public Notices Portal .