Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol to Experience Closures for Refurbishment Works
The historic Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol, England, will undergo a series of closures in the month of August as part of vital refurbishment works. The closures are necessary in order to ensure the longevity and safety of the bridge.
Contractors Taziker will be installing painting pods on the bridge chains starting from 7:00pm on Friday, August 2nd, until 7:00am on Monday, August 5th. During this time, the bridge will be closed to both traffic and cyclists. A diversion route will be marked using Bridge Valley Road, Brunel Way, and A369 Rownham Hill.
Additionally, the bridge will be closed to all pedestrians, cyclists, and traffic during Bristol’s International Balloon Fiesta Nightglows on Friday, August 9th, and Saturday, August 10th. The closures will last from 6:00pm until midnight on both nights.
Trish Johnson, the Bridge Master, stated, “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.”
Johnson urges the public to plan ahead, especially for those attending the evening events at the Fiesta on August 9th and 10th, as the bridge will be closed to pedestrians as well as road users.
The closures during the fiesta were first implemented twenty years ago due to concerns about potential structural stresses caused by the large number of pedestrians on the bridge. “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 Johnson. “We have agreed with the event organisers that, to ensure the safety of the public and the bridge, the bridge should be closed for the Friday and Saturday evenings.”
The Clifton Suspension Bridge Trust apologizes for any inconvenience caused by the closures and hopes to minimize disruption by keeping the bridge open during weekdays. Traffic following the official signed diversion routes during these times will be exempt from Bristol City Council’s Clean Air Zone. For more information, please visit www.bristol.gov.uk/caz.
ENDS
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