£11.9m works set to stabilise walls along New Cut

Nearly one third of the walls surrounding a waterway cutting through the middle of Bristol are in “a critical or serious structural condition”.

This means that Bristol City Council is set to spend £11.9m to stabilise the “high risk” crumbling infrastructure around the New Cut in a massive repair project which will take at least five years to finish.

Led by the council’s contractor Griffiths, the works will start at Bedminster Bridge where the roundabout joins Coronation Road on Monday, with the road remaining open but a section of the pavement being narrowed.

Labour councillor for Avonmouth & Lawrence Weston and cabinet member for transport Don Alexander warned earlier this year that parts of the walls could collapse unless urgent action was taken.

Surveyors found that among the 194 retaining river walls along the Floating Harbour and the New Cut, 58 are in a “critical or serious structural condition”, with 11 considered to be “high risk”.

Some 211 years after it was created, the New Cut is showing its age

In a press release listing the work, a council spokesperson said:

• “Repair work from Monday to the river wall on the southwest corner of Bedminster Bridge where the roundabout joins Coronation Road. The road will remain open, but a section of the pavement will be narrowed.
  “Investigatory works in the spring of the river wall alongside Cumberland Road, 90 metres from Gaol Ferry Bridge. A section of pavement and a single lane on Cumberland Road will need to be closed temporarily.
• “Investigatory works in the spring at the natural rock faces along the riverbank near Gaol Ferry Bridge – the bridge will remain open throughout these works.
• “Investigatory works in the spring at the river wall alongside York Road next to Langton Street Bridge, also known as Banana Bridge. A section of pavement and a single lane on York Road will need to be closed temporarily, however during this work access to the bridge will not be affected.”

The wider programme of work includes repairing Underfall Sluice footbridge and further investigations, ecological assessments, and scoping for repairs at four additional river wall sites, including next to Paynes Shipyard, Camden Road, Gaol Ferry ramp, and Feeder Road jetty.

Alexander added: “It’s encouraging that work will be starting this month to stabilise our river wall assets, crucial for the long-term safety and resilience of our waterfront infrastructure and transport network.

“The Floating Harbour is an integral and historic part of the city, supporting diverse businesses, homes, and wildlife, while enhancing Bristol’s tourism appeal.

“This investment of £11.9m reflects our commitment to securing Bristol’s future by addressing inherited infrastructure challenges. It is on top of our rolling £16m programme to restore six key New Cut bridges and an investment of around £1.8m into the sluice infrastructure, which protects the harbourside and surrounding areas from flooding, by controlling water levels within the harbour.”

“The programme of work underscores the importance of proactive maintenance, mitigating risks, and safeguarding the harbourfront for all the communities it serves.”

Recent repair works to Gaol Ferry Bridge and the Chocolate Path received criticism for running well over their schedule.

All photos: Betty Woolerton

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