News / bridges
Swing bridge that no longer swings to close for up to two years for repairs
Bathurst Swing Bridge is the latest bridge in Bristol that will be closing as part of the city council’s £16m rolling series of repairs to the crumbling infrastructure along the New Cut.
The bridge has not swung for many years and is now next to one of Bristol’s newest bridges, Commercial Road Bridge, which will remain open while its historic neighbour closes for up to two years from March 3.
Bathurst Swing Bridge was built in 1905 between two lock gates within a small channel linking the New Cut to Bathurst Basin.
is needed now More than ever
This was once particularly useful for smaller vessels in order to bypass the main entrance locks at Cumberland Basin in Hotwells.
The channel was blocked up during the Second World War in order to prevent catastrophic flooding if the lock gates were destroyed.
Bathurst Basin in 1934 with Bathurst Swing Bridge in the bottom-left corner – photo: Historic England / Britain From Above
Bathurst Swing Bridge carries road traffic and pedestrians from Wapping Road and Cumberland Road to Commercial Road.
Restoration work will include repairing the bridge’s structure using bespoke parts that need to be specially fabricated off-site, repainting and weatherproofing, and adding a new high friction surface.
Bathurst Swing Bridge carries road traffic and pedestrians from Wapping Road and Cumberland Road to Commercial Road – photo: Martin Booth
Ed Plowden, chair of the transport & connectivity committee, said: “Following an inspection of the structure, we have moved the Bathurst Swing Bridge repairs to the top of the list of our New Cut bridges programme of work, as it is badly corroded and could become unsafe if we don’t act soon.
“Luckily, we have enough contingency in the £16m budget to add it to our New Cut bridges restoration programme.
“It’s the first time in around 25 years that this historic bridge will have any major work done to it, and it is thanks to our focus on Bristol’s harbourside infrastructure that we have mobilised quickly to get the repairs booked in.
“I would like to thank everyone again for their patience while we work to restore our city’s historic bridges and make sure these vital connections are safeguarded for the future.”
Main photo: Martin Booth
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