Pedestrians risking lives on A63 Castle Street
National Highways has released video footage and images of people risking their own lives and those of others by ignoring diversions and crossing Hull’s busiest road as improvement works take place.
The government-owned company, along with contractors Balfour Beatty and the Safer Roads Humber partnership, including Hull City Council and Humberside Police, is urging people to follow the pedestrian diversions around the major A63 Castle Street works and stay outside of the roadworks.
Recent life-threatening incidents include a pedestrian crossing the road and clambering under a small gap in the central reservation steel fencing, narrowly missing oncoming traffic.
On other occasions, skaters have been using industrial pipes to perform tricks and someone was seen pushing a trolley on the road.
Bernice Sanders, Senior Project Manager at National Highways, said: “While we plan our work to minimise inconvenience to drivers, pedestrians, cyclists and residents, the measures we put in place are for one paramount reason – to ensure safety.
“People who selfishly ignore the pedestrian diversions, like climbing through fencing, to save a few minutes on their journey are putting both their lives and others at risk.”
RISKING LIVES: CCTV footage shows a pedestrian squeezing through a small gap in the steel central reservation fencing along the busy A63
Ruth Gore, Spokesperson for Safer Roads Humber, said: “Safer Roads Humber has been undertaking speed enforcement on behalf of National Highways to manage traffic speeds to ensure the safety of the motoring public and those on the construction site whilst these roadworks are progressing.
“The majority of drivers are complying with the speed restrictions, and we thank them.
“However, on this occasion it is other road users who are putting themselves and others in danger by entering the roadworks. We ask them to use the designated crossings so that everyone can share the road safely.”
Nearby to the works, several ‘yellow brick’ road signs have been positioned to safely divert pedestrians, cyclists and skaters around the Mytongate junction improvement work, including along the new Murdoch’s Connection footbridge.
Councillor Dean Kirk, the city council’s Portfolio Holder for Transportation, Roads and Highways, said: “We urge everyone to use the designated crossing places whilst National England carry out these essential improvement works to the A63.
DANGEROUS: A pedestrian pushing a trolley on the A63
“Signs and measures are in place for everyone’s safety and it’s shocking to see in these CCTV images how pedestrians, cyclists and skaters are unnecessarily putting their lives at risk. Follow the yellow brick road signs to the safe crossings.”
Will Neaves, Project Director at Balfour Beatty, said: “The health and safety of all those who work with and for us, as well as the members of the public, is always our priority.
“We ask that pedestrians follow the diversion routes which are clearly signposted, while these essential works remain ongoing.”