Alison Alderton reports:
THE Scale Lane swinging footbridge over the River Hull has reopened to pedestrians and cyclists following its closure late last year.
The bridge was closed to the public in December 2024 when essential repair works to its swing mechanism were scheduled to take place. However, a routine inspection identified several bearings also needed replacing to ensure the long-term operation of the structure.
As several river traffic movements were anticipated for the months following, and by law, vessels have priority over pedestrian traffic, Hull City Council made the decision to swing the bridge and retain it in an open position until a full repair programme could be carried out by a specialist contractor in the new year. During this time people were directed to alternative routes across the River Hull such as the Millenium Bridge.
The work was initially expected to be completed by the end of February but due to the complexity of the structure four extra days were added to the timeframe. The apostrophe-shaped swing bridge has a rotating mechanism which enables it to swing open horizontally to allow large boats to pass and was the first bridge in the world to allow pedestrians to remain on the bridge while in motion. It is also cantilevered, which allows it to curve upwards, to facilitate passage for smaller boats.
Designed by Renato Benedetti and opened in 2013 at a cost of £7 million, the bridge spans the River Hull Harbour between Hull’s Old Town and an industrial area of the city, and also forms part of the Trans Pennine Trail cycle link to the Hull ferry terminal. It has been awarded several accolades and was listed as one of the 30 most impressive bridges in the world by Popular Mechanics magazine.
Scale Lane footbridge is one of 13 opening bridges on the 16 miles of the navigable River Hull – no other city has as many opening bridges over such a short distance of navigation and these are a true spectacle to see in operation.
The council will now consider the contractor’s recommendations and plan a maintenance scheme for the Scale Lane footbridge to be implemented later this year. A comprehensive plan to ensure the structure’s longevity and safety will also be developed.
