Bristol's Langton Street Bridge to undergo £2m repairs

A historic footbridge is to undergo a £2 million refurbishment to save the "corroded" structure.

Bristol's Langton Street Bridge is set to close for up to 18 months on 13 May for a full refurbishment of the structure.

The 19th Century bridge is the fourth to be refurbished as part of a five-year programme of major repairs to six bridges over the New Cut.

Diversions will follow Bath Bridge on Bath Road, or Bedminster Bridge.

Bristol City Council has set aside a £16 million investment to restore six bridges on the River's Avon's New Cut section.

The city has already seen the restoration of the Gaol Ferry Bridge, which reopened in September 2023 after a year of refurbishment works.

In October, the authority temporarily closed Vauxhall Bridge and Sparke Evans Park Bridge for essential repairs.

The Langton Street Bridge works, which will be carried out by the council's engineering contractor Griffiths, will include removing the surface, repairing the steel structure and masonry abutments (the structures that support the bridge), and repainting the bridge.

Councillor Don Alexander, cabinet member for transport, said: "The historic footbridge is corroded and needs structural work to safeguard it for future generations.

"It is part of Bristol's history and this will be the first time it's had any major works, other than general maintenance, since 1884."

He added the work would be completed "as quickly as possible", but was dependant on the condition of the bridge upon further detailed inspection.

The restoration project is being funded by the Department for Transport's City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement, administered by the West of England Combined Authority.

Follow BBC Bristol on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.