16/03/2026
An essential project to improve and strengthen the metal Weel Bridge in Beverley is due to get underway in April.
East Riding of Yorkshire Council is to invest ÂŁ1m in an important scheme to upgrade the 70-year-old bridge, which carries traffic over the River Hull, between Beverley and the village of Weel.
The vital work is scheduled to start on Monday 13 April and will see the entire aluminium structure being removed for a major overhaul.
Unavoidably, the removal will mean the closure of the route over the bridge for around 12 weeks, until the bridge is due to be lifted back in place in July.
Improvements
The refurbishment is designed to strengthen the bridge, improve safety and access for traffic, and to make it more reliable for the future.
Inspections identified corrosion within the aluminium structure of the bridge, along with wear to key mechanical components and the deterioration of parapets and pedestrian access.
Combined with the bridge’s tidal, environmentally sensitive location, routine maintenance is no longer sufficient.
The project will see the bridge removed and refurbished off site, allowing affected sections to be replaced and systems upgraded under controlled conditions, improving safety, reliability and long‑term resilience for all users.
Repairs will be carried out to the structure, as well as the installation of a modern operating system and the creation of a new dedicated shared path across it for pedestrians and cyclists to use.
While the bridge is off site, the contractor will take advantage of the road closure to deliver road improvements either side of the bridge, including straightening the alignment of the western approach to improve visibility and safety for vehicles accessing the bridge.
The existing narrow footpath will be replaced and widened, creating a dedicated shared pedestrian and cyclist route on one side, bringing the crossing up to modern standards and improving safety.
Once complete, the bridge will be lifted back into place and the route will reopen.
The bridge was built in 1953. The last major improvements were carried out in 2012, but it has been closed for short periods for minor work several times since.
Weel Bridge is a bascule bridge, meaning it can be raised and lowered to cater for boat traffic along the river.
Closure and diversion
The temporary closure of the route from 13 April will mean traffic won’t have access to Grovehill Road in Beverley from Weel Road, and vice versa.
Traffic to and from Weel will be diverted along Weel Road and the A1035 Bridlington to Beverley road, until the work is completed.
Recycling site
The household waste recycling site at Weel, which the bridge was used to access from the Beverley direction, will also be closed for the 12-week period.
During this time, residents are urged to use the nearby household waste recycling sites at Hornsea, Driffield and Humberfield at North Ferriby instead.
While the household waste recycling site is closed, the council will carry out maintenance and investigations with the aim of improving its drainage system, to help prevent flooding issues at times of heavy rainfall that have caused the recycling site to shut in the past.
Councillor Paul West, the council’s cabinet member for environment and transport, said: “We understand the closure of this route will cause issues for drivers and pedestrians, but I want to thank them in advance for bearing with us while we complete this essential work and reopen the bridge.
“Unfortunately, carrying out the work while the bridge remained in place would cause major safety problems for users and our workers, and untold disruption to traffic.
“So it’s unavoidable that we need to remove the bridge and carry out the work off-site. This means the improvements can be made more quickly, regardless of the weather, to a better standard, and we can get the bridge back in place and the route reopened as soon as we possibly can.
“We want to make sure this bridge is strong, safe and better for the drivers, pedestrians and cyclists who use it for years to come.”
The work on the bridge will be carried out by contractor Esh Construction, on behalf of the council, which was previously appointed to carry out improvements to Bubwith Bridge and Stamford Bridge in the East Riding.
Steve Garrigan, divisional director at Esh Construction, said: “Weel Bridge is a vital piece of local infrastructure and this project will ensure it remains safe, reliable and fit for purpose for decades to come.
“Drawing on our experience of delivering complex bridge refurbishment schemes such as Stamford Bridge and Bubwith Bridge, we’re using an off‑site approach that allows critical repairs and upgrades to be carried out under controlled conditions, improving quality while reducing overall programme time.
“We recognise the disruption that temporary closures can cause, and our focus is on completing the work as efficiently and safely as possible, before returning the bridge to service in a significantly improved condition for motorists, pedestrians and cyclists alike.”
For more information or questions on the scheme, please email the council at [email protected]
