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The construction of a new bridge over the New Cut River Avon should be seriously considered, according to Bristol City Council’s head of transport. Cllr Don Alexander concluded after sharing an update that the work to repair the Gaol Ferry Bridge would take longer and cost more money than previously thought, because the condition of the bridge was worse than expected.

Repair work on the 1930s suspension bridge is now expected to take a full year or more, and it won’t be open before the end of summer at the earliest, which Cllr Alexander acknowledged would be a blow to people. of Bedminster and Southville and the businesses in Wapping Wharf that have been severely affected by their closure.

Read next: Gaol Ferry ‘Paper thin’ bridge in Bristol is much worse than first thought, council says

But Cllr Alexander also added that a new bridge was something he was now in favor of, after realizing how well used the existing bridges across the New Cut are. Planning permission for a new bridge over the New Cut on Camden Road in Southville was granted in 2015, but it was a project that did not survive the transition between the George Ferguson administration and the work of Marvin Rees in 2016.

At present there are only three pedestrian and cycle bridges from south Bristol to the city centre: the Vauxhall Bridge at the western end of Spike Island, the Gaol Ferry Bridge from Southville to Wapping Wharf and the Langton Street Bridge, better known as Banana Bridge. – from the eastern end of Bedminster to Redcliffe.

Other bridges spanning the New Cut include the Ashton Swing Bridge, which was restored and reopened in 2018 to carry pedestrians, cyclists and the Metrobus m2 from Ashton Gate to the Cumberland Basin, and the road bridges at Brunel Way, Bedminster Bridge and Bath Road. Bridge.

Where a fourth footbridge would be created is not something Cllr Alexander has entered into, but he said he thought it was necessary, given the number of people now walking and cycling through the New Cut.

“As a lightweight suspension bridge, the Gaol Ferry Bridge was not originally designed to carry the number of people who, until its temporary closure, used it every day to cross between south Bristol and this part of Spike Island,” he said.

“Having invested in repairing existing structures, I believe it is only right for the City to consider the need for another nearby pedestrian and bicycle bridge across the New Cut. As Bristol continues to grow, to 550,000 residents by the middle of this century, that would help to better distribute the load and take pressure off the 60 meter span of the Gaol Ferry Bridge.

“In the meantime, we will continue to ensure that these essential works are completed in the shortest possible time, and people will need to continue to use the detour routes via Vauxhall Bridge or Bedminster Bridges,” he added.

Local councilors in Southville said they doubted it would ever happen under the council’s current administration, noting that planning permission was granted in the mid-2010s for a new bridge spanning New Cut halfway between the Gaol Ferry Bridge and Vauxhall Bridge, but it was never built.

Cllr Tony Dyer, (Green, Southville) said: “Ten months ago we proposed the need for additional bridges across the New Cut to support pedestrian and cyclist expansion into Southville and other areas of south Bristol.

“Planning permission for a new cycle bridge near Camden Road was granted almost eight years ago, but it was never built. Meanwhile, Whitehouse Street Regeneration has also seen the provision of an additional bridge.

“If we want to encourage more pedestrians and cyclists, we need to invest not only in repairing what we have, but also in adding additional capacity,” he added.

And Cllr Christine Townsend (Green, Southville) said Cllr Alexander’s new belief that a new bridge was needed was a ‘distraction’.

“While we support more bridges through the New Cut, we have no expectation that any will be delivered under this administration given the timelines required,” he said. “Cllr Alexander’s comments are simply an attempt to divert attention from yet another overspending and delay by Labor capital,” he added.

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