Clifton Suspension Bridge to close to traffic on first two weekends of August

The bridge will be closed to traffic and cyclists from 7.00pm on Friday 2nd August to 7.00am 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 Nightglows on Friday 9th August and Saturday 10th August when the bridge will be closed to all pedestrians, cyclists and traffic from 6.00pm 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 organisers 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 apologise for the inconvenience which these closures will cause. We hope that by keeping the road open during weekdays we will minimise 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.