Work is being coordinated on two city centre projects including the first phase of the scheme to bring back two lanes on each side of Freetown Way
An artist’s impression of how the new off-road cycle scheme could look on Freetown Way, Hull(Image: Hull City Council)
Lanes on Freetown Way will be narrowed and part of one side of George Street will be closed to traffic from next week due to work on two Hull city centre projects. From Monday, April 13, traffic management will create sections of narrow lanes along Freetown Way to enable drainage works, ducting and surveys to be undertaken.
This forms part of the first phase of the Freetown Way scheme, which will see the return of two lanes of traffic in each direction, alongside off-road cycle tracks. At the same time, part of George Street, between the junctions with Freetown Way and Wincolmlee, will be closed eastbound to all vehicles.
This will allow for the installation of pipework for Hull City Council ’s district heating project, which will deliver heating and hot water to public and private sector customers. The council says work on the projects has been coordinated to take place at the same time to minimise the impact on road users.
Planned diversions during the George Street closure will be via Wilberforce Drive, Lowgate and the A63 to Great Union Street. Stagecoach service 10 and East Yorkshire services 24, 75 and 277 will also be diverted.
National Highways’ planned eastbound slip road closure at Market Place, as part of its ongoing overnight works on the A63, has now been postponed to help to ease congestion whilst the George Street works are in place.
A three-week closure in the same location will follow on George Street’s westbound carriageway, starting on Tuesday, May 5. These works are scheduled to be completed by Sunday, May 24.
Chris Jackson, director for regeneration and partnerships at Hull City Council, said: “The works mark an important milestone in the Freetown Way scheme, which will ultimately return the road to two lanes of traffic in each direction. It is also a key point for the district heating project, connecting Trippet Street energy centre with the network in the city centre.
“The council is undertaking these works simultaneously to help minimise disruption and we would like to thank motorists and users of public transport for their patience whilst these works take place.”
Freetown Way, which is one of Hull’s busiest routes, was reduced to just one lane in each direction in 2020. In addition to returning the road to its previous configuration, the scheme this year 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 areas for cyclists and pedestrians.
The scheme 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.
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