Humber LEP Local Growth Deal

This week's Humber Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Local Growth Deal announcement included two schemes which will impact on bus services.

Firstly there is funding for the Melton Ross Rail Bridge on the A18 in North Lincolnshire - this is currently single file with a weight restriction preventing use by buses. The Humber Flyer, 68 Wolds Villager and Saturday only 366 all have temporary timetable as a result of needing to divert via Croxton village. The Humber Flyer was nearly re-routed away from Humberside Airport entirely this month, and the temporary timetable has required an additional vehicle to maintain an hourly frequency.

Secondly there is funding to strengthen Park Street bridge in Hull City Centre, which will provide an alternative route for buses between Anlaby Road and Paragon Interchange, reducing traffic on the very busy Ferensway. Hopefully those services which currently use the city centre loop will continue to do so (i.e. some inbound and most outbound services). The few outbound services from Hull City Centre that do not use the city centre loop (National Express, Megabus Plus, X62, Humber Flyer, Evening and Sunday 350) will benefit from not needing to have a rather lengthy detour around Prospect Street, Brook Street and Ferensway. Inbound services not using the city centre loop will have a slightly quicker journey into the Interchange if they use Park Street, but the popular alighting stop on Anlaby Road would be lost. Strengthening Park Street Bridge would also provide the option of routing the Park and Ride Service via Paragon Interchange, should Stagecoach wish to do so.

A18: Strengthening or Replacing the Railway Bridge at Melton Ross - £1.75M
The A18 is a strategic link road between Scunthorpe and the Ports of Immingham and Grimsby and the bridge over the Scunthorpe to Grimsby railway line provides the primary access route into Humberside airport, a vital asset for the region’s economic growth. The bridge is currently in a weakened condition and the investment will return it to being fully functional thereby allowing all vehicles travelling on the A18 to use it instead of HGVs having to divert through the village.

Hull: Strengthening Park Street Bridge on Anlaby Road (A1105) - £0.76M
This section of Anlaby Road is part of the Inner City Strategic Diversion Route  which aims to  improve the traffic flow and reduce congestion on the A1105. Funding will be used to widen the carriage way outside Hull Royal Infirmary and strengthen the existing Park Street Bridge to remove an existing 7.5 ton weight restriction. The work will improve access from the west to the City Centre Strategic Development Sites and enable an alternative route for buses and coaches to access the Paragon Interchange taking traffic off the A63.