Key city bridge to close over safety fears

A key swing bridge which crosses an inner-city waterway in Bristol is to close for two years for repairs.

Bathurst Swing Bridge carries vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians from Wapping Road and Cumberland Road to Commercial Road in the harbourside.

The bridge, first opened in 1905, will close from 3 March.

Bristol City Councillor Ed Plowden said the structure is "badly corroded and could become unsafe if we don't act soon".

Traffic will be moved to the Commercial Road Bridge which runs alongside it, and temporary traffic lights will be installed to allow traffic to flow in each direction.

The works are part of the council's £16m programme of repairs to bridges along the New Cut, such as Langton Street Bridge - known as the Banana Bridge - and Vauxhall Bridge.

Although the work is expected to take up to two years, the council said it depends on what condition the bridge is in when decking is removed once it is closed.

The works include removing the concrete decking and timber footpath, and repairing the bridge's structure.

Mr Plowden, chair of the transport and connectivity committee, said: "It's the first time in around 25 years that this historic bridge will have any major work done to it, and it is thanks to our focus on Bristol's harbourside infrastructure that we have mobilised quickly to get the repairs booked in.

"I would like to thank everyone again for their patience while we work to restore our city's historic bridges and make sure these vital connections are safeguarded for the future.

"Thankfully, as it has a new bridge immediately alongside, we can minimise disruption."

The restoration is expected to cost around £1.3m, which will come from central government.

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