Repairs to a major bridge over Bristol’s floating harbour have been delayed and the council is facing a 40 per cent hike in the cost of the multi-million pound project.
Redcliffe Bridge, from the Redcliffe Way roundabout, is designed to be raised and lowered so boats can pass underneath but it has not been fully operational since 2015.
Bristol City Council had budgeted £3million to repair the bridge and was expecting to award a 16-month contract in September this year.
But it is having to find another £1.25million to fund the project, which is not expected to finish until March 2022, two months later than planned.
The council’s ruling Labour administration approved the extra cash and the new timeline at their latest meeting on December 1.
A cabinet paper setting out the details of the project said the on-site works were expected to start in April 2021.
The bridge will have to be completely closed to all traffic - including pedestrians and cyclists - for ten weeks over September to November.
Traffic will be diverted via the now-closed Bristol Bridge, which will require “some advance junction improvements and enabling works”, according to the paper.
The bridge closure is required because it will have to be raised to allow the installation of a new bespoke “clamping” mechanism at the nose end.
The new system will enable the bridge to be lowered automatically.
This used to be done manually by a council operator based mainly on experience and “feel”, the paper says.
The new system should also cut down on the noise and vibrations for local residents and businesses from the bridge bouncing when it is crossed by traffic.
The new clamping arrangement is required because the existing one cannot be refurbished and is the reason the project will finish later than originally planned, according to the paper.
“The new clamping arrangement will require the full closure of Redcliffe Bridge to all traffic, including pedestrians/cyclists for a period of 10 week [sic]...with resultant full project completion of all refurbishment work now being extended to March 2022,” it says.
The council put the repair works out to tender in May and has a shortlist of four valid bids.
Redcliffe Bridge was built in 1942.
