The Humber BridgeThe Humber Bridge

A Necessary Masterpiece?A Necessary Masterpiece?

Background InformationBackground Information

Completed June 24, 1981Completed June 24, 1981 Located in Hull, EnglandLocated in Hull, England Connects Kingston Upon Hull to Connects Kingston Upon Hull to

Barton upon HumberBarton upon Humber Longest suspension bridge when Longest suspension bridge when

opened, now fourth longestopened, now fourth longest

Image of Humber BridgeImage of Humber Bridge

More Images of Humber More Images of Humber BridgeBridge

Technical InformationTechnical Information

Clearance above high water 30m (~100 ft)Clearance above high water 30m (~100 ft) Total length of wireTotal length of wire 71,000km (~44,000 mi)71,000km (~44,000 mi) Load in each cable 19,400 tons (~38mil lbs)Load in each cable 19,400 tons (~38mil lbs) Weight of Steel 27,500 tons (~55mil lbs)Weight of Steel 27,500 tons (~55mil lbs) Bridge designed for a lifespan of 120 yearsBridge designed for a lifespan of 120 years

MotivationsMotivations There was a demand for an efficient There was a demand for an efficient

route for trade across the Humber route for trade across the Humber River since the late 1800’sRiver since the late 1800’s

Ferry services existed, but they went Ferry services existed, but they went in and out of business oftenin and out of business often Merchants and businesses needed a Merchants and businesses needed a

better connectionbetter connection The economy of Hull was declining The economy of Hull was declining

and there was little developmentand there was little development

Motivations, continuedMotivations, continued

Humber River more central than Humber River more central than London for trade with rest of EuropeLondon for trade with rest of Europe

"A Humber Bridge is a national "A Humber Bridge is a national interest because balanced regional interest because balanced regional development is a national interest.“ development is a national interest.“

-Barbara Castle, Minister of Transport -Barbara Castle, Minister of Transport

Options for ProjectOptions for Project

Tunnel proposed in 1872Tunnel proposed in 1872 Multi-span truss bridge proposed in Multi-span truss bridge proposed in

19281928 Project went nowhere because of Great Project went nowhere because of Great

Depression in USADepression in USA Other possibilities:Other possibilities:

Improve ferry serviceImprove ferry service Other type of bridgeOther type of bridge

Options for Project, Options for Project, continuedcontinued

Suspension bridge chosen for two reasonsSuspension bridge chosen for two reasons The river bed shifts because of the boats The river bed shifts because of the boats

that travel on the Humber. that travel on the Humber. A suspension bridge would avoid the A suspension bridge would avoid the

complications of changing conditions in the complications of changing conditions in the river and only minimally block the pathway of river and only minimally block the pathway of boats.boats.

Because of the geology and topography Because of the geology and topography of the area, the construction of tunnel of the area, the construction of tunnel would be more expensivewould be more expensive

CostsCosts

Estimated to cost £28m (~$45m)Estimated to cost £28m (~$45m) Construction cost £98m (~$160m)Construction cost £98m (~$160m) By 1981, when bridge opened, bridge By 1981, when bridge opened, bridge

debt with loan charges was already debt with loan charges was already £151m (~$241m)£151m (~$241m)

Government paid more than £300m Government paid more than £300m (~$480m) to pay off Humber Bridge(~$480m) to pay off Humber Bridge

OppositionOpposition Citizens oppose tollsCitizens oppose tolls

£1.9 (~$3.00): £1.9 (~$3.00): 33rdrd highest toll in Britain highest toll in Britain Political issues: Why should drivers have to Political issues: Why should drivers have to

continue to pay for a bridge that taxpayers paid continue to pay for a bridge that taxpayers paid for?for?

Many citizens of the southeast area feel Many citizens of the southeast area feel there is too much focus on Hull, not enough there is too much focus on Hull, not enough focus on surrounding areasfocus on surrounding areas Many sub-regional shopping centers lose trade Many sub-regional shopping centers lose trade

to Hullto Hull Residents feel existing service facilities are run Residents feel existing service facilities are run

down and spread out while those in Hull are down and spread out while those in Hull are concentrated and in better conditionconcentrated and in better condition

Problems with ProjectProblems with Project

High price inflation during the construction periodHigh price inflation during the construction period Margaret Thatcher, Prime MinisterMargaret Thatcher, Prime Minister

Delays caused by ground conditionsDelays caused by ground conditions Labor relations difficultiesLabor relations difficulties

Some workers claimed “down-time” of up to 90% during Some workers claimed “down-time” of up to 90% during the winter months the winter months

Adverse weather conditionsAdverse weather conditions Vehicle utilization was unchanged for 23% of firms Vehicle utilization was unchanged for 23% of firms

because the bridge was marginal to their because the bridge was marginal to their operations operations

Only nine firms responded to the bridge by Only nine firms responded to the bridge by reorganizing internallyreorganizing internally

BenefitsBenefits

Bridge connected two very distinct Bridge connected two very distinct parts of Englandparts of England

£250m (~$400m) in economic £250m (~$400m) in economic growthgrowth-County Council's Planning Department -County Council's Planning Department

Barton upon Hull more developed Barton upon Hull more developed than beforethan before

Benefits, continuedBenefits, continued

Study of Market Penetration in 1986Study of Market Penetration in 1986 Increase of average cross-estuary Increase of average cross-estuary

commercial activity:commercial activity: from 8.1% to 13.9% of journeys across from 8.1% to 13.9% of journeys across

HumberHumber From 13.6% to 20.7% in business From 13.6% to 20.7% in business

transactions across Humbertransactions across Humber

Benefits, continuedBenefits, continued

Vehicle utilization was unchanged for Vehicle utilization was unchanged for 23% of firms because the bridge was 23% of firms because the bridge was marginal to their operations marginal to their operations

Only 9 of the 52 firms interviewed Only 9 of the 52 firms interviewed responded to the bridge by responded to the bridge by reorganizing internallyreorganizing internally

→ → Benefits studied in 1986 were mixedBenefits studied in 1986 were mixed

Ongoing ProblemsOngoing Problems

Bridge hasn’t yet paid for itself.Bridge hasn’t yet paid for itself. Humberside is now a rural area and Humberside is now a rural area and

economic growth is still neededeconomic growth is still needed Much of the initial traffic on the Much of the initial traffic on the

bridge was provided by tourists and bridge was provided by tourists and others out of curiosityothers out of curiosity

Ongoing Problems, Ongoing Problems, continuedcontinued

No more than 6% of average weekday No more than 6% of average weekday traffic was commercial traffic traffic was commercial traffic ““If the bridge is to become commercially If the bridge is to become commercially

viable, commercial traffic will have to viable, commercial traffic will have to comprise 50% of average weekday traffic”comprise 50% of average weekday traffic”

- Malcolm Stockwell, Bridgemaster- Malcolm Stockwell, Bridgemaster Traffic from southeast is particularly Traffic from southeast is particularly

sensitivesensitive

ReferencesReferences

A Review of Yorkshire and HumbersideA Review of Yorkshire and Humberside Do Road Projects Benefit Industry?: A Case Do Road Projects Benefit Industry?: A Case

Study of the Humber BridgeStudy of the Humber Bridge Humberside: A Feasibility StudyHumberside: A Feasibility Study http://johnlowe.net/Teaching/Projects/Projehttp://johnlowe.net/Teaching/Projects/Proje

ct5.htmct5.htm http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepaghttp://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepag

es/ray_shields/skat.htmes/ray_shields/skat.htm http://www.humberbridge.co.uk/http://www.humberbridge.co.uk/