Boats can now travel in and out of Bristol's Floating Harbour for the first time in more than a week after harbour authorities patched up a broken lock gate.
The 150-year-old Howard Lock, the main entrance to the city's harbour at Cumberland Basin, broke on Saturday, July 24, and meant no maritime traffic could enter or leave the harbour onto the River Avon and the Avon Gorge for eight days.
The outer lock gate would not close properly, which meant the lock could not be filled, trapping boats inside the harbour for eight days.
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On Sunday, a team brought in by Bristol City Council used a large crane to remove one of the sluice posts and paddles from the Hotwells side of the lock gate, and found it had been 'significantly damaged'. The presence of the crane meant that Cumberland Basin Road was closed and motorists travelling from the city centre onto the Portway had to embark on a four-mile diversion to Long Ashton and back on Sunday morning.
The paddle was patched up and put back, but council chiefs have warned they will have to go back and do a proper fix at some point soon.
A Bristol City Council spokesperson said: “The entrance and exit to the harbour is now open for use following repairs to the outer sluice gates to the Cumberland Basin. Yesterday’s investigation found that a sluice post and paddle had been significantly damaged. A temporary repair was made so that the harbour could safely operate.
“Further work will be required which will likely involve a further short closure, the details of which will be advised as soon as they are available," he added.
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