Going bananas for the reopening of Langton Street Bridge
Newly refurbished Langton Street Bridge has reopened, restoring a vital link across the New Cut of the River Avon and securing the long-term future of the 142-year-old structure.
The Lord Mayor of Bristol was accompanied by the new mayor of the West of England and pupils from Oasis Academy Temple Quarter to officially reopen Langton Street Bridge on Friday 20 June.
Better known as the Banana Bridge, because of its distinctive yellow colour and curved shape, the bridge has reopened five months ahead of schedule following a full restoration.
I am delighted that we have reopened Banana Bridge as I know many of the pupils from nearby schools and plenty of local people have missed being able to use it, so we will all be pleased it has reopened early.
Councillor Ed Plowden, Chair of Bristol City Council’s Transport and Connectivity Committee
It is looking very smart and more banana-like than ever with its fresh coat of yellow paint. The refurbishment has safe-guarded this Grade II listed structure for many years to come, maintaining important connections across the New Cut and a piece of Bristol’s heritage.
While bridges form a big part of our city’s identity they are also incredibly important to how people move across Bristol. This functional role is a major reason we’re working with the Mayor of the West of England and our regional partners to secure the funds we need to invest in their future. Through our multi-million pound investment programme, we are renovating, restoring and revitalising eight bridges along the New Cut and securing their use for many generations to come.
The restoration work, which started in May 2024, has seen Langton Street Bridge’s structure, masonry and decking repaired, the bridge strengthened and repainted, a new handrail installed, and its surface paving stones re-laid.
The repair project has cost around £1.4 million, which is being funded by the Department for Transport’s City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement, secured by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority.
Banana Bridge is looking fantastic, yellow and fixed a whole five months ahead of schedule. It’s much loved and well used by people crossing the New Cut. Like Bristol folk, I’m delighted that it is open again: looking better and brighter than ever!
Helen Godwin, the new Mayor of the West of England
Getting the basics right by fixing our region’s roads and bridges will lay the foundations for a better transport system overall for the West of England. Earlier this month, we secured £752 million for that next stage. That means that the West can get out of the slow lane on transport and start to catch up with other city-regions, with better buses, more trains, and mass transit – with trams and much more on the table.
Langton Street Bridge’s transformation is part of a £16 million New Cut bridge restoration programme to repair eight bridges. Find out more at bristol.gov.uk/newcutbridges
About Langton Street Bridge
Langton Street Bridge is a footbridge that crosses the River Avon between Bedminster Bridge and Bath Bridge, linking north and south of the river.
It was built in 1883 and was initially used as a temporary crossing while Bedminster Bridge was being constructed.
When Bedminster Bridge was completed in 1884 the temporary bridge was floated up the river on high tide to Langton Street and lowered into place on low tide.
Langton Street and the surrounding area was damaged by bombing in the Second World War and the roads were reconfigured to make way for post-war housing. This means the bridge no longer leads to Langton Street.
The curved shape of Langton Street Bridge has led it to being known locally as Banana Bridge. It was later painted yellow and black.
Work to stabilise the river walls either side of the bridge is continuing. A section of York Road is remaining closed to motorised traffic between St Luke’s Road towards Bath Bridges roundabout until later this summer when the road will reopen one-way heading in the direction of Bedminster Bridges roundabout.
Completed New Cut bridges restoration works:
- Langton Street Bridge (Banana Bridge) repaired from 2024 to 2025
- New Brislington Bridge was repaired in 2024
- Gaol Ferry Bridge was repaired from 2022 to 2023
Ongoing restoration works:
- Bathurst Swing Bridge closed in the spring of 2025 for up to 2 years
- Sparke Evans Park Bridge closed in October 2023 for up to 2 years
- Vauxhall Bridge closed in October 2023 for up to 3 years
Remaining New Cut bridges in the programme:
- Bath New Bridge (part of twin bridges on Bath Bridges roundabout) – starting summer 2025
- Bedminster Bridge roundabout (twin bridges)
