Gaol Ferry Bridge: Still no date on closure despite council pledge to give as much notice as possible

An official closure date is yet to surface for a bridge that serves as a major route into Bristol for thousands of people, with just weeks to go until repair works are set to commence on the historic structure.

Bristol City Council announced earlier this year that Gaol Ferry Bridge would close for restoration in April, leaving the thousands of people who use it each day to seek an alternative route.

The bridge is one of only two pedestrianised bridges over the Avon New Cut and is a key passage for commuters travelling from South Bristol into the city centre.

Many were concerned by the news of the temporary closure, particularly independent businesses in Wapping Wharf who heavily rely on trade from customers passing through on their way to the bridge.

But despite the disruption the closure will inevitably cause, Bristol City Council said it wasn’t able to offer an official closure date just yet - although it does say as much notice will be given as possible.

A spokesperson for the authority told BristolWorld the bridge wasn’t expected to close for the next few weeks, adding: “We’ll be aiming to give people as much time as possible to consider the impact on their circumstances and plan accordingly.”

The bridge will remain closed until the end of the year, undergoing up to eight months of essential maintenance and repairs.

Five other bridges set to undergo repairs over the next five years are Vauxhall Bridge, Langton Street Bridge, Sparke Evans Park Bridge, Bedminster Bridge and Bath Bridge as part of a £15m project.

Speaking to BristolWorld about the bridge closure in February, Bristol mayor Marvin Rees said: “We need to work on the bridges, there’s no way around it, otherwise they will be unsafe and we can’t use them.

“Of course there will be inconvenience, but this about making sure the bridge will continue to be a safe crossing for Bristol people and keep us connected.”