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Region: Bristol
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To help plan construction work to not only refurbish Bedminster Bridges, but to transform how people travel over them, investigatory and preparatory work will take place from 16 February for around three weeks.
These initial works will help plan for the restoration works and wider transport project to change how each bridge is used. Bedminster Old Bridge will become two-way for buses and taxis only, and Bedminster New Bridge will become two-way for general traffic. Plans also include introducing separate cycle paths, quicker crossings and more pavement space for pedestrians, and planting around 50 trees.
The inspection and preparatory work, which will take place on Bedminster Bridges Roundabout and part of Redcliff Hill and Bedminster Parade, includes:
- Trial digs to find the exact position of underground utilities and to check ground conditions.
- Detailed investigation of the existing road layers, to help plan resurfacing works.
- Detailed inspection of Bedminster Old Bridge, including utilities within the bridge.
- Removing 15 trees – three of which need to come out because they are below ground level as part of the pedestrian subway on Redcliff Hill.
To keep traffic moving, the work will take place outside of peak times, between 9.30am and 3.30pm. While some lanes will need to close for the work to take place, there will not be any full road closures.
I am pleased that these essential investigatory works are getting underway and that they will take place outside the busiest times, so will hopefully not cause too much disruption in the area.
Councillor Ed Plowden, Chair of the Transport and Connectivity Committee
The need to remove trees from this area was included in the public consultation we ran in 2024. Along with many people, I will be disappointed to see them go, but I understand this is the best option to achieve this exciting transformation. They will make way for the separated cycle paths and wider pavements needed to make travelling over the bridges safer for the many thousands of people who walk, wheel and cycle to and from the south of Bristol towards the city centre. It will also mean we can change the road layout to unlock bus speed and reliability improvements.
Our plans include planting around 50 new trees to replace the 15 that will be lost, which will make the area much greener over time. This is part of our commitment to increasing the tree canopy across the city, building on the 100,000 trees planted through the One Tree Per Child and Trees for Streets programmes. A further 2,000 trees will also be planted over the next three years through the highways and landscapes tree planting programme.
The main construction work on Bedminster Bridges had been set to get underway in the spring. However, due to the complexity of the project, this is now expected to start in autumn 2026.
The project is being funded by the UK Government through the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement, secured by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority.
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