Highways England Q&A: Major investment in the Humber region

Following our Humber Estuary Economic Growth Conference we’ve been speaking exclusively with Highways England’s Tim Gamon…

How vital are highways to future development and economic growth across the Humber region?

Roads are vital for future development and economic growth, connecting businesses and people and enabling employment and productivity growth. In fact, our strategic road network is one of the biggest and more significant publicly-owned economic assets in the country. Motorways and major A-roads that comprise the strategic road network (SRN) connect locations of economic importance, including ports such as those at Hull and Immingham – allowing goods to travel both inwards and outwards, domestic and international. The SRN carries two thirds of freight traffic, more freight than all other roads and transport modes combined, and this demand is set to increase.

What are some of the most important projects Highways England has for the Humber?

We have a history of major investment in the Humber region. During our first road investment period (2015-2020) we opened to traffic a major improvement to the A160/A180 at Immingham. This scheme saw journeys improved for the 13,000 vehicles using it every day and the 5,700 HGVs reliant on the route for access to the port. On the north side of the Humber we have completed some major improvements, including:

• A new iconic footbridge across the A63 at Princes Quay docks, which was opened earlier this year
• A major improvement to the junction between the A63 and Roger Millward Way, which eases congestion and has improved safety for pedestrians and cyclists.

We also started work on our major improvement for the A63 Castle Street in 2020 which is scheduled for completion in 2024-25. The A63 Castle Street provides a vital link between the M62 motorway, as well as the Humber Bridge and the A15 to the west and the Port of Hull to the east. Drivers experience regular hold-ups, particularly at the Mytongate junction which restricts the flow of traffic. Our £355 million investment will tackle this congestion, bringing better, more reliable journeys. Once complete, the scheme will mean improved access to the port and better connections between the city centre and Hull’s many fantastic tourist and recreational facilities.

Our work extends beyond traditional road improvement projects. We also work with partners to help protect and improve the environment and to develop and implement solutions to environmental challenges. Through our designated funds programme we have part-funded the Environment Agency’s Humber: Hull frontage scheme which will reduce the risk of flooding for 113,000 properties. We’ve also contributed funding to the Castlehill aquagreen flood alleviation project.

The A63 Castle Street project in Hull is underway now, what are the core opportunities on this £355m scheme?

This project is classes as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure and it really is just that. Its hugely significant for Hull and the wider region as it tackles a major bottleneck on the road network – making journeys quicker and more reliable for the many thousands of vehicles that use this route every day. But it’ll also address the issue of severance between the marina and the city centre, better connecting the city for pedestrians, cyclists and disabled users too. Two new bridges will link the south and north of the city.

What, if any, has been the effect of the pandemic and its consequent effect on travel patterns in shifting the approach towards the development of highways?

The coronavirus pandemic has had the biggest single-year impact on road traffic since records begin in 1949. All motor vehicle types saw a decrease in traffic levels during 2020, with motorway and ‘A’ road traffic most heavily impacted, decreasing by 25.3% and 23.2%. But traffic patterns continue to change and it’s vital that our teams work with the Department for Transport (DFT) to continue monitoring them. Future investment decisions are made through DfT’s Road Investment Strategy process and we’re in the research stage of these for RIS3. Route strategies are a vital part of this research and we’ll soon be starting to speak to our stakeholders about these.

If you would like more details on route strategies please contact our inbox routestrategies@highwaysengland.co.uk.