A BUSY bridge used by thousands of drivers, walkers and cyclists every day will close for two years next week.
TheBathurst Swing Bridge, near Bristolcity centre, will be shut down as part of a £16million refurb project.
Motorists and locals will no longer be able to access the popular bridge, which connects from Wapping Wharf and Cumberland Road, from Monday, April 7.
Temporary traffic lights will be put in place to redirect cars onto a two way diversion route alongside Bathurst Swing Bridge.
Construction was originally due to start on March 3 but was pushed back until the Walters Group stepped in.
It is estimated the £1.3million work will take up to two years but this is subject to change.
Councillor Ed Plowden, Chair of the Transport and Connectivity Committee, told BristolLive:: “I’m really pleased we are in a position to get started with these essential repairs.
“The bridge has become corroded and could become unsafe if we don’t act soon.
“It’s the first time in around 25 years that this historic bridge will have any major work done to it.
“I would like to thank everyone again for bearing with us as 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 and actively respond to traffic build up at peak times.”;
The project is part of Bristol City Council’s £16million plans to repair bridges along the New Cut.
This consists of eight structures in the Harbourside area, and has already been in motion at the Vauxhall Bridge, Sparke Evans Park Bridge and Langton Street Bridge.
Elsewhere, the Gaol Ferry Bridge and theBrislingtonNew Bridge, have been completed.
Meanwhile, theBedminsterBridge Roundabout andBathBridge Roundabouts will have construction take place at a future time.
Restoration work
THE restoration work will include;
- Removing concrete decking underneath and the timber footpath
- Removing paint and corrosion
- Assessing the condition of the bridge
- Repairing the bridge’s structure
- Repainting and weatherproofing the bridge
- Adding a high friction road surface and road markings
This comes as a major A road is also due to close for five months, sparking commuter chaos.
The work, which is due to start in May, has been given the green light so a cycleway can be improved.
The A435 Cheltenham to Bishop's Cleeve Cycleway won't be complete until August 2025.
The road will be closed in both directions between the Cheltenham Racecourse roundabout and the Hyde Lane/Southam Lane junction.
The Gloucestershire Cycle Spine, which has been set to encourage more commuters in the area to hop on a bike instead of their car, will provide a 26-mile stretch.
The scheme will run between Bishop's Cleeve and Stroud.
Elsewhere, resident have vented their fury over a two-year major road closure after a nightmare landslip.
Disgruntled locals in Swanscombe,Kent, are fed up skirting around sections of the A226 on diversion routes after chaos struck in April 2023.
Major works are needed on Galley Hill Road, but nearly two years after the collapse motorists are still being inconvenienced.
The disaster is believed to have been caused after a large 150mm mains pipe burst.
There are fears it could take up to three years to fix, although this has not been confirmed.
Plus, fuming locals in Canterbury,Kent have lashed out at their town's mayor for organizing repairs at his £1million home.
Therenovationmeans that the area's only road will be shut for almost six months.
The popular route through Fordwich will be impassable from April and September for “essential” work to begin on the property.
