Clifton Suspension Bridge set for refurbishment
Two years of work will start in April
Last updated 11th Mar 2024
Major work will start in April to refurbish one of the West Country's most iconic landmarks, the Clifton Suspension Bridge.
The bridge over the Avon Gorge first opened in 1864 and staff say two years worth of work is needed to protect the bridge's chain links, many of which are now 180 years old.
The bridge's lighting system which illuminates it at night is also set to be replaced, having come to the end of its working life.
"A protective paint system is set to keep the ironwork in top condition; whilst a cutting edge, environmentally friendly and sustainable lighting system will replace the current illuminations," a post on the Clifton Suspension Bridge website reads.
"A large number of the bridge’s chain links are 180 years old, having been manufactured for Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s Hungerford Footbridge in London which opened in 1845.
"When the footbridge was demolished to make way for the Charing Cross Railway Bridge, the engineer John Hawkshaw recycled the parts to complete Bristol’s own beloved icon."
The multi-million pound project is being entirely funded by bridge tolls and is being carried out by engineering contractor Taziker.
The firm has also worked on several other historic structures including Abraham Darby’s Ironbridge in Shropshire, Brunel’s Royal Albert Bridge in Saltash and the roof of Brunel's Bristol Temple Meads Railway Station.
"To ensure the correct thickness of paint, the chains must be painstakingly painted by hand as spraying the iron would not ensure the three coats of even coverage that are required," the post on the bridge website continues.
"Specially made tools, designed specifically for the chains of the Clifton Suspension Bridge have been made to guarantee that the gaps between the chain links are also properly coated."
The painting is necessary because salt in the air from the River Avon below can cause the ironwork to corrode.
One footway will be closed to the public while the work is carried out, by an average of 15-20 people each day.
You can find out much more about the Clifton Suspension Bridge via this link.