Your Guide to Navigating the North Bridge: Weekend Closures for Vital Resurfacing Work

Anyone who travels around Hull knows that getting from A to B sometimes requires a bit of forward planning. Well, here’s a heads-up for your diaries. Hull City Council has announced a couple of weekend closures for North Bridge coming up in March and April. It might sound like a bit of a pain, but it’s all for a good reason. The council is getting ahead of the game with some essential resurfacing work to make sure the bridge stays in tip-top condition, especially with more traffic expected soon. Think of it as a quick health check for one of the city's key routes to prevent a bigger headache down the line.

What's happening and when?

So, what’s the plan? The council is closing North Bridge for two full weekends to carry out some much-needed repairs on the road surfacing. It's a bit like when you have to redecorate a room – you can't really use it while the work is being done. The goal is to fix up the bits of the road that have seen better days. This essential resurfacing work is being done to ensure the safety of everyone who uses the bridge, from cars to buses.

These weekend closures are timed to get the bridge ready for the extra traffic it's about to handle. The nearby Drypool Bridge is scheduled for its own closure starting in mid-to-late May 2026, and when that happens, North Bridge will become a main diversion route. By getting these repairs done now, the council is making sure the bridge can handle the pressure without any unexpected problems. The contractors need to ensure the road surfacing is perfect to cope with the increased volume of vehicles. Mark these dates down so you're not caught out:

• From 6am on Saturday 21 March until 6am on Monday 23 March

• From 6am on Saturday 11 April until 6am on Monday 13 April

So, why now?

It’s a fair question. Why cause this inconvenience now? Well, it’s all about being proactive. The current state of the road surfacing isn't a major issue yet, but if left alone, those small worn-out patches could turn into much bigger problems. An unplanned closure later in the year, especially when Drypool Bridge is also out of action, would cause a huge amount of disruption. It’s a classic case of 'a stitch in time saves nine'. By scheduling these weekend closures now, the teams can get the resurfacing work done efficiently. This means the vital transport infrastructure of the city remains reliable. The aim is to avoid a situation where emergency repairs are needed, which would be far more disruptive than these planned weekend closures. The whole point is to guarantee the safety of the public and keep the city's transport network running as smoothly as possible. These necessary repairs will ensure the bridge is robust for the foreseeable future, preventing long-term travel chaos.

Getting around during the closures

Okay, so the bridge is closed to cars, bikes, and even emergency vehicles. How do you get across? During the closures, there will be a clearly signposted diversion route in place, guiding traffic over Drypool Bridge instead. It’s a good idea to allow some extra travel time for your journey, as the diversion will likely be busier than usual. A little bit of planning will go a long way to making sure you still get where you need to be on time. The good news for pedestrians is that the footpaths on North Bridge will remain open. So, if you're on foot, you can cross as normal without any interruption. This ensures that people can still access the city centre and other areas without having to take a long detour. The team of contractors, which includes Midland Industrial Flooring Limited and Ashcourt Limited, will be working hard throughout the weekend to get the job done. The public’s cooperation is really important to help them carry out this work safely and efficiently.

A word from the council

It's always helpful to hear directly from the people in charge. Councillor Mark Ieronimo, who is the portfolio holder for transport and infrastructure at Hull City Council, explained the thinking behind the decision. He stressed that with the upcoming Drypool Bridge closure, ensuring North Bridge is in solid condition is essential for managing the flow of traffic, including the designated bus routes.

“With the increased volume of traffic that will use North Bridge as part of the diversion and designated bus route during the upcoming Drypool Bridge closure, these works are essential to ensure the bridge remains safe and operational,” he said. “By repairing the deteriorated areas now, we can prevent them from worsening and avoid a much more disruptive, unplanned closure in the future. We understand the inconvenience these weekend closures will cause and appreciate the public’s patience and cooperation whilst our contractors carry-out these vital works.”