Travel News: Clifton Suspension Bridge (Bristol) closed to traffic on first two weekends in August

A number of bridge closures are planned in August as vital refurbishment works continue at the Clifton Suspension Bridge, Bristol.

The bridge will be closed to traffic and cyclists from 7.00 pm on Friday 2nd August to 7.00 am on Monday 5th August as contractors Taziker undertake the complex process of installing painting pods on the historic bridge chains. Throughout the weekend, a diversion route will be signed using Bridge Valley Road, Brunel Way, and A369 Rownham Hill.

Further closures will take place during Bristol’s International Balloon Fiesta Night glows on Friday 9th August and Saturday 10th August when the bridge will be closed to all pedestrians, cyclists, and traffic from 6.00 pm until midnight.

Bridge Master, Trish Johnson, said, “As part of this project to conserve the bridge for many years to come, we need to schedule occasional road closures to carry out work safely. During these closures, we will be undertaking excavations in the road to install cables, erecting scaffolding, jet-washing the historic ironwork, and painting the chains from the roadway. We will also take advantage of the closure to carry out general maintenance.

I urge people to plan ahead, especially if they are attending the evening events at the Fiesta on Friday 9th August and Saturday 10th August, when the bridge will be closed to pedestrians as well as road users.”

Evening closures during the fiesta were first implemented twenty years ago following concerns that the 150-year-old landmark could suffer potentially unacceptable structural stresses due to the sheer volume of pedestrian traffic.

“A crowd of pedestrians on the roadway of the bridge creates a far greater loading than normal car traffic, and this could cause damage to the bridge and injury to its users,” explained Mrs. Johnson. “We have agreed with the event organizers that to ensure the safety of the public and the bridge, the bridge should be closed for the Friday and Saturday evenings.

“Clifton Suspension Bridge Trust wishes to apologize for the inconvenience these closures will cause. We hope that by keeping the road open during weekdays we will minimize the disruption caused.”

Traffic following the official signed diversion routes from the bridge during these times will be exempt from Bristol City Council’s Clean Air Zone. To find out more, visit www.bristol.gov.uk/caz.