‘Get to root of problems with roundabout’, urges society

The Highways Agency is spending £590,000 on installing lights and a dedicated lane for traffic turning into King George Dock to relieve congestion.

The “Northern Gateway” roundabout - the first point of entry to the city for thousands of ferry passengers - was replanted last year at the cost of around £100,000, but has since been left to grow wild.

A second roundabout at Marfleet was replanted this year - but also isn’t being maintained, despite talks between officials and the Highways Agency, which last year stopped cutting all but crucial verges.

Chairman of Hull Civic Society John Netherwood said news of the Department of Transport grant was welcome, but added: “It is an absolutely awful advert for people coming off the ferry. We have just come back from driving 1,500 miles round France and Germany and in comparison with the way they treat verges and roundabouts in their country, this is absolutely appalling.”

Hull North MP Karl Turner was embarrassed by the state of the road, when he recently showed round an overseas delegation.

He said: “I am also hoping that some of the funding will be used to maintain the verges and roundabouts. It is the first sight most tourists and perspective investors see and it is overgrown and unkempt.”

Work on the roundabout is expected to begin this Autumn. The scheme involves the provision of traffic signals on the A1033 approaches to the roundabout and a dedicated lane for port-bound traffic.

Coun Martin Mancey said they’d been assured the funding wouldn’t compromise attempts to finally gain a solution for the congested Castle Street section of the A63, in the city centre.

Coun Mancey said: “Ensuring safe access to the port is particularly important given the critical role which the port will play in the developing renewables industry.

“I am pleased that the Highways Agency has given us an assurance that this funding for the A1033 Northern Gateway ‘in no way prejudices other schemes’ which we have prioritised.”