Bristol City Council has announced the closure of Bathurst Swing Bridge for a comprehensive refurbishment, a project expected to last up to two years.

The iconic bridge, constructed in 1905, connects Wapping Road and Cumberland Road to Commercial Road in the Harbourside area. Originally designed to swing open for boats, it has been fixed in place for several years. A newer bridge, the Commercial Road Bridge, opened in 2018 as part of the Metrobus project, now serves as the primary route for traffic in the area.

Originally slated to begin in early March, the restoration works were delayed due to contractor availability. However, the council has now secured Walters Group to undertake the necessary repairs.

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The restoration will involve a complete overhaul of the bridge’s structure, which includes the removal of the concrete decking and timber footpath. The bridge will then be grit blasted to remove paint and corrosion, and an assessment will be made to determine the extent of necessary repairs. Specialised parts will be fabricated off-site to repair the structure, and the bridge will be repainted and weatherproofed. Additionally, a high-friction road surface and updated road markings will be added.

The full extent of the repairs will depend on the condition of the bridge, which can only be fully assessed once the decking is removed during the closure.

During the closure, all road traffic and pedestrians will be redirected across the nearby Commercial Road Bridge. To manage traffic flow, temporary signals will be installed on Cumberland Road and Commercial Road, with manual control during peak times to address congestion.