A key Bristol route is to be hit with disruption from today (September 20) due to "essential" works. Avon Bridge on Brunel Way (A3029) is to undergo a refurbishment which will result in a lane closure in both directions until October 21.
The works will also see weekend road closures in alternate directions. However, the dates for these are still to be confirmed.
Avon Bridge was found to be in a very poor condition during a detailed investigation in 2021 as part of Bristol City Council's bridges annual maintenance programme. The work will involve replacing the fixed bridge’s four road expansion joints, removing its road surfacing to re-waterproof the reinforced concrete deck, and replacing the road surface.
Read more: Redcliffe Bascule Bridge works delayed as bridge not expected to reopen until later this year
The council said it has created a four-phase plan to minimise traffic disruption during the refurbishment. From today and until October 5, lane one (the inside lane) will close on both the north and southbound routes on Avon Bridge to remove surfacing and re-waterproof the concrete deck and replace the road surface.
Phase two - October 6-21 - will see the outside lane, lane 2, close on both the north and southbound routes to replace the road surface. Traffic is likely to build in these areas during busy times, the council has said.
Councillor Don Alexander, Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “Refurbishing Avon Bridge is essential to protect the structure from further water damage and keep the structure operational as it reaches the end of its lifecycle. Brunel Way is a major route, so we’ve worked hard on a plan to keep the bridge open as much as possible throughout the works.
"However, they are likely to delay people as they travel through the area, so we are suggesting finding alternative routes and hope that everyone bears with us while we repair this important bridge.”
After October 21, there are expected to be two weekend closures of Brunel Way with traffic diverted via Cumberland Road and Coronation Road. The dates of these closures have not yet been announced.
Priority is being given to critical structural bridge repairs to prolong the life of this complex elevated structure. The council also assesses the wider Western Harbour area, including the Cumberland Basin complex, during routine highway inspections and roads are routinely patch-repaired when needed.
The essential work is just one of several bridges undergoing repairs this autumn. Gaol Ferry Bridge has been closed for repair work expected to last several months and Redcliffe Bridge is closed to all road users from today until at least November so it can be held open in an upright position.
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