First phase of £11m flood defence scheme is set to begin

Construction of a dual purpose concrete barrier designed to both improve safety and prevent flooding on a busy stretch of road in East Riding will start next month.

The work is the first stage of the £11m Hessle Foreshore Tidal Defence Scheme.

Working with East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Highways England will start construction of the 600-metre long concrete barrier next to the westbound stretch of the A63 near Hessle.

The one-metre high, dual purpose barrier is designed to reduce the risk of flooding as well as acting as a vehicle safety barrier on a busy stretch of the Clive Sullivan Way.

Work for this first stage is due to start early in November and is expected to be completed in February next year.

Led by East Riding of Yorkshire Council, the Hessle Foreshore Tidal Defence Scheme has been designed to reduce the risk of flooding from tidal surges to more than 4,000 homes and businesses in the Hessle and West Hull area.

Work on the next two stages of the project are due to start early in 2020. These will include: The construction of a glass and concrete wall along the southern side of Cliff Road. The wall will include flood gates at various points which can be closed during a tidal surge event; The road under the Humber Bridge being raised slightly to tie in with the concrete barrier as it passes under the bridge; Improvements to the sluice structure on the Fleet Drain at Hessle Clough, including raising the existing wall by one meter to reduce the risk of overtopping during a tidal surge.

Highways England project manager Steve Bishop said: “This is a great scheme to be involved with and once the barrier is complete it will protect homes and businesses from flooding and will also act as a safety barrier for vehicles.

“We always try to keep any disruption to a minimum and we want to thank drivers for their patience while we carry out this work.”

Councillor Chris Matthews, portfolio holder for strategic management at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “I’m extremely pleased work will soon begin on this major tidal defence project, with our partners at Highways England delivering the first stage.

“When the whole scheme is complete it will help to minimise the risk of flooding to thousands of properties in Hessle and West Hull.

“So far more than £60m has been invested in the East Riding to help protect local communities from flooding incidents like those we’ve experienced in the recent past.”

Hessle Foreshore is a low lying area which suffered significant flooding in the tidal surge of December 2013. Predictions suggest similar flooding events are likely to happen more often in the future, because of increases in sea levels caused by climate change.

The Hessle Foreshore Tidal Defence Scheme is jointly funded with grants administered by the Environment Agency (£6.75m Flood Defence Grant in Aid), the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (£2.3m European Regional Development Fund).

This project has been supported with £2m of funding from the Humber LEP’s Local Growth Fund programme which has been secured through its Growth Deals with Government and is part of the Government’s commitment to the Northern Powerhouse.

While the concrete barrier is being installed, temporary traffic lights will be in place on Livingstone Road when required and there will be full closures of the A63 westbound carriageway between Brighton Street and Western Interchange from 7pm until 7am.

In a separate piece of work but at the same location Highways England will also be shutting three lay-bys, one on the eastbound carriageway and two on the westbound carriageway to improve safety issues caused by slow moving vehicles pulling out in to faster moving traffic.

There will also be overnight closures on the A63 between 8pm and 6am and a lane one closure in place on the A63 during the day to close the lay-bys. However work will not be conducted on both carriageways at the same time.

Clearly signed diversions will be in place. And as part of this work Highways England will be updating signage and carrying out some minor electrical and lighting maintenance in the area.

More details are available at https://highwaysengland.co.uk/regions/north-east/?postcode=&keywords=&roads=A63&status

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