The Humber Bridge is perhaps the most famous landmark associated with Hull and with good reason, providing a spectacular crossing of the river and also making journeys into Lincolnshire far easier. But now there could be another.
Associated British Ports (ABP) has put forward proposals for a second bridge to Transport for the North, which has just launched a new consultation on freight and logistics infrastructure.
The proposed bridge would provide a link between the ports of Hull and Immingham, with the new network this creates bringing the four Humber ports within easy reach of each other.
ABP regional director Simon said the idea would involve putting the crossing on top of the new Humber flood barrier the Environment Agency is considering. He said advantages would include making freight and logistics more reliable, as a single closure of the existing bridge would not bring such traffic to a standstill.
“Putting in a new crossing would reduce congestion in Hull, forge new economic ties between Grimsby and Hull and build resilience into the road network,” he remarked.
People seeking houses to buy in Hull may be interested in the idea too, as this could help boost the value of any home they purchase now if and when such a bridge arrives.
This will be both because of the wider convenience of less congested roads, better transport links and the obvious major economic benefits that the city would enjoy.
Much of this could be happening anyway as Hull enjoys being the focus of new seaward-facing industries, especially the booming offshore wind sector with its factory and research facilities in the city.
The original Humber Bridge was built between 1972 and 1981. When it was completed, it was the longest single-span suspension bridge in the world, a record it held until 1997. It is still the longest bridge in the world that can be crossed on foot or by bike.
So long is the span that the towers at either end are 36 mm further apart at the top than the bottom to compensate for the curvature of the Earth.
