Gaol Ferry Bridge closure put back again after repair plan deemed unsafe

Six months later the bridge is still open
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The six-month closure of a major Bristol bridge has been put back again after plans to repair it were deemed potentially unsafe for contractors.

All the way back in January, Bristol City Council announced that Gaol Ferry Bridge, a key walkway over the Avon New Cut, would close in April until the end of the year for urgent repair and safety works.

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The bridge dates back to the 1930s and serves as a main link for people travelling between Southville and Harbourside - however, its steel beams are now ‘corroding and rotten’ and must be fixed.

Thousands of people cross the bridge from South Bristol into the city centre each day, and the closure announcement sparked fears that traders at Wapping Wharf would suffer from a huge dent in footfall.

But as we come to the end of July, the bridge still hasn’t closed. Issuing an update today (Thursday, July 28) Bristol City Council said the repair plan was being revised due to safety issues.

A spokesperson for the authority said: “This is a complex project which is presenting challenges from the outset.

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“The main contractors, Griffiths, has already discovered the bridge might not cope under the extra weight of proposed supporting scaffolding.

“This, and other complexities, mean the planned closure of the bridge and the majority of works have had to be deferred over the summer months so a revised plan can be developed.”

Until the plan is approved, the Council said it was unable to confirm the exact date the bridge will close.

“We reiterate our commitment to give at least two weeks’ notice before closing Gaol Ferry Bridge, keeping residents and local businesses updated, and will do our best to complete the works as quickly as possible,” the spokesperson added.

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