‘Murdoch’s Connection’ immortalises the city’s first female GP, Dr Mary Murdoch. The name was chosen by school students in an essays competition
Pupils from the Newland School for Girls and Archbishop Sentamu Academy submitted 100 essays to a judging panel made up of Emma Hardy MP, Katy Duke (CEO Deep), Cllr Daren Hale (deputy leader of Hull City Council), Karen Oliver-Spry (Humber LEP investment programme manager) and key members of the Highways England project team.
The panel chose Dr Murdoch after whittling it down to a shortlist of five people. The question was then opened up to the public, attracting 55,000 votes.
Murdoch’s Connection will link the city centre to the marina, waterfront and fruit market. The structure is to cross the dual carriageway of the A63, allowing pedestrians and cyclists to safely cross the road, and will also ease congestion on the A63.
Highways England senior project manager James Leeming said:
The major Highways England project, which will shape the future of Hull, will see the bridge open to the public in the autumn.
Dr Murdoch, who passed away in 1916 at the age of 51, was House Surgeon at the Victoria Hospital for Sick Children in Park Street. She was the most popular choice from a star-studded shortlist which also included ‘headscarf revolutionary’ Lillian Bilocca, philanthropist William Wilberforce, Julia Lee, the first woman to officiate men’s rugby league games in the UK, and heroic World War Two veteran Thomas Ransom.
Councillor Daren Hale, deputy leader of Hull City Council, said:
Murdoch’s Connection is being part-funded with a £4 million contribution from the Humber Local Enterprise Partnership’s local growth fund programme, secured through its growth deals with Government and part of the Government’s commitment to the Northern Powerhouse.
Chair of the Humber LEP Stephen Parnaby OBE said:
For updates about the scheme visit the Highways England website and look out for the hashtag #a63hullpqbridge on the regional Twitter account, @HighwaysYORKS.