The closure date for Gaol Ferry Bridge has finally been announced by Bristol City Council after months of delays and uncertainty. The bridge, which is one of the main pedestrian routes from south Bristol into the city centre, will close from August 22 so that it can be restored and repaired.
According to a statement released by the council, the works are expected to take between six and nine months, and the timeline "will become clearer once the full structure of the bridge is uncovered". The closure of the bridge has been repeatedly delayed.
Repairs began in December 2021, although the bridge remained partially open, and it was expected to close in early January this year and reopen in late March. However, the council pushed this back and said that the scale of the work meant the bridge would close in April and remain shut until the end of the year.
Read more: Gaol Ferry Bridge work 'won't start for weeks' as closure is delayed
The repairs were then pushed back again until the summer, with the council saying that it would close on June 6. This didn't happen, but the work is now set to start according an update from the authority.
One week before the closure on August 22, contractors Griffiths will close off a section of footpath next to Gaol Ferry Bridge on Cumberland Road to create a site compound for equipment, storage, parking and welfare units. While the bridge is closed, people will be diverted along routes via Bedminster Bridge or Vauxhall Bridge.
Local businesses in Wapping Wharf have previously expressed concern to Bristol Live about the potential impact of the closure.
Stuart Hatton, managing director of Umberslade, the developer behind Wapping Wharf, said in June: "We understand the need to carry out essential works to Gaol Ferry Bridge. However, we are concerned about the impact of its closure on the community of independent businesses at Wapping Wharf, particularly as this comes after a very challenging two years for the retail and hospitality sectors due to the pandemic. We are talking to the council about how this impact can be mitigated."
Read next:
