This is the first phase of the A63 Castle Street, Hull scheme. A pedestrian footbridge crossing the A63 to improve safety is being erected and the footbridge itself is being named ‘Murdoch’s Connection’ which immortalises the city’s first female GP, Dr Mary Murdoch.

THE JOURNEY

IP Surfaces produced a 5 metre panel made of European Amarelo Montemuro granite which was placed within a cladded wall area of the footbridge steps. The panel has within it a Crystal Black granite tile that reveals a digitally enhanced image of Mary Murdock, a Scottish-born physician and suffragist who had a lifelong association with Kingston upon Hull. The granite was impact-etched from an original photograph. Waterjet cut letters are also inlayed into the larger panel. The project also has a large bespoke element of granite steps, treads and cladding units each of which required individual production drawings.

The name ‘Murdoch’s Connection’ was chosen by school students in an essays competition to determine which of the area’s iconic figures should be honoured. Pupils from the Newland School for Girls and Archbishop Sentamu Academy submitted 100 essays to a judging panel which chose Dr Murdoch after whittling it down to a shortlist of five people. The question was then opened to the public, attracting 55,000 votes.

CGI images courtesy of Arup.