Long delays expected amid Cumberland Basin roadworks
A lane will be closed in both directions on Avon Bridge for the next month
Drivers should expect delays on the Cumberland Basin in Bristol for several weeks from today (September 20).
Bristol City Council have shut one lane in both directions on Avon Bridge so they can resurface the road and carry out several repairs including fixing the bridge's four road expansion joints.
It immediately caused heavy traffic this morning and that is likely to continue.
The council’s highways maintenance team will also take the opportunity to clear the road gullies and refresh road markings in the area, and are also planning repairs to the carriageway on Hotwell Road.
Weekend road closures in alternate directions are also planned in the near future, though the exact dates for those are yet to be confirmed.
A diversion will be put in place via Coronation Road and Cumberland Road.
The works are planned to take place over the following four phases:
Phase 1: 20 September to 5 October - inside lane (lane 1), closures both north and southbound on Avon Bridge to remove surfacing and re-waterproof the concrete deck and replace the road surface.
Phase 2: 6 to 21 October - outside lane (lane 2), closures both north and southbound on Avon Bridge to remove surfacing and re-waterproof the concrete deck and replace the road surface.
Phase 3: southbound weekend closure of Brunel Way to replace the four expansion joints, with traffic diverted via Cumberland Road and Coronation Road.
Phase 4: northbound weekend closure of Brunel Way to replace the four expansion joints, with traffic diverted via Cumberland Road and Coronation Road.
The City Council says the works have been agreed to by Bristol Sport, the owners of Bristol City Football Club and the Bristol Bears who play at Ashton Gate and Avon and Somerset Police.
Councillor Don Alexander, Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “Refurbishing Avon Bridge is essential to protect the structure from further water damage and keep the structure operational as it reaches the end of its lifecycle.
“Brunel Way is a major route, so we’ve worked hard on a plan to keep the bridge open as much as possible throughout the works.
"However, they are likely to delay people as they travel through the area, so we are suggesting finding alternative routes and hope that everyone bears with us while we repair this important bridge.”
The work forms part of the council’s bridges annual maintenance programme and has been planned after Avon Bridge was found to be in very poor condition during a detailed investigation in 2021.