Award-Winning A63 Scheme Recognised for Engineering Excellence

A flagship National Highways project that has transformed one of Hull's busiest transport corridors has been recognised with a prestigious national engineering award.

The £355 million A63 Castle Street improvement scheme was named Best UK Project in the over £10 million category at the Ground Engineering Awards 2026, with judges praising the project's innovative design and collaborative approach to managing complex construction challenges.

The award highlights one of the most technically demanding infrastructure schemes delivered in the UK in recent years. Central to the project was the construction of a new underpass at Mytongate, creating a split-level junction designed to improve traffic flow while reconnecting parts of the city that had long been divided by the busy A63.

Judges singled out the project's approach to risk management, particularly the use of a dedicated Project Steering Group, which they described as a model that could influence how future major infrastructure projects are delivered across the UK.

The recognition comes just months after the upgraded route fully opened to traffic, marking the completion of a scheme aimed at improving access between Hull city centre, the waterfront and the Port of Hull.

National Highways Senior Project Manager Frances Oliver said the award reflects the scale of the engineering challenge and the efforts of everyone involved in delivering the project.

She described the construction of the underpass as one of the most complex infrastructure undertakings in the country and said the completed scheme is already delivering benefits for residents, businesses and visitors.

The redevelopment included lowering the A63 beneath the Mytongate junction, allowing Ferensway and Commercial Road to pass over the route. The eastbound carriageway between Princes Dock Street and Market Place was also widened to three lanes to increase capacity and improve journey reliability.

The changes have been designed to reduce congestion, improve road safety and strengthen links between the city centre, retail areas and the docks.

Beyond transport improvements, the project has also delivered wider community benefits. More than £103,000 was distributed through National Highways' Community Legacy Fund and contributions from principal contractor Balfour Beatty, supporting local initiatives and organisations across the area.

The award further cements the A63 Castle Street scheme's reputation as one of the UK's most significant recent highway infrastructure projects, combining complex engineering with long-term economic and connectivity benefits for Hull and the wider Humber region.