Cost of fixing city's bridge triples to almost £6m

The cost of repairing a city's footbridge has almost tripled after 80% of the structure had to be replaced.

The repair bill for Vauxhall Bridge, which stretches over the New Cut at Bristol's River Avon, was originally forecast to cost £2m. But that figure has now been estimated at £5.7m.

The crossing, which featured in the television show Skins, connects Southville to Spike Island and has been shut since October 2023.

"Bridges are challenging," said Shaun Taylor, the council's head of highways. "Until you actually strip a bridge back, you don't actually know what you're going to come across."

Speaking at the city's transport policy committee on 9 July, he explained that demolishing the 82m (270ft) long bridge and building a new one would have cost much more money.

Built about 1900, it is also Grade II listed, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

"We've had to replace 80% of it," Taylor said.

"The option and the recommendation from the consultants was to demolish and build a new one for £20m to £30m.

"We've actually managed to save the bridge, quite an iconic bridge, for £5.7m.

"The team has managed to make very good value out of that."

Bristol City Council initially estimated the repairs would take two years and the bridge would reopen by October 2025.

Vauxhall Bridge was originally a swing bridge but since boats stopped using this route to get to shipyards along the New Cut, it has not been swung open since 1935.

During the Second World War, the bridge was bombed and shot at, with some damage still visible. A new link bridge, the ramp and steps on the Spike Island side, was built in 1986.

Vauxhall Bridge, which is due to reopen early next year, is one of eight bridges being repaired through a £16m restoration programme funded by the government.

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