News / New Cut
Banana Bridge to reopen early after refurbishment
Following a full restoration, the Banana Bridge is due to reopen on Friday – five months ahead of schedule.
Officially known as Langton Street Bridge, the curvaceous yellow span crosses the New Cut between York Road and Clarence Road.
The £1.4m restoration which started in May 2024 was funded by the Department for Transport’s City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement secured by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority.
is needed now More than ever
It has seen the bridge’s structure, masonry and decking repaired, the bridge strengthened and repainted, a new handrail installed, and surface paving stones re-laid.
The lord mayor of Bristol, Henry Michallat, accompanied by pupils from St Mary Redcliffe Primary School and Oasis Academy Temple Quarter, will be cutting the ceremonial reopening ribbon on the 142-year-old structure at midday on Friday.
The Banana Bridge was built in 1883 and was initially used as a temporary crossing while Bedminster Bridge was being constructed before being floated up the New Cut on high tide and lowered into place on low tide – photo: Martin Booth
Ed Plowden, chair of Bristol City Council’s transport & connectivity committee, said the bridge “is looking very smart and more banana-like than ever with its fresh coat of yellow paint”.
Plowden said: “While bridges form a big part of our city’s identity they are also incredibly important to how people move across Bristol…
“Through our multi-million pound programme, we are renovating, restoring and revitalising eight bridges along the New Cut and securing their use for generations to come.”
Metro mayor Helen Godwin added: “Getting the basics right by fixing our region’s roads and bridges will lay the foundations for a better transport system overall for the West of England.
“Earlier this month, we secured £752m for that next stage. That means that the West can get out of the slow lane on transport and start to catch up with other city-regions, with better buses, more trains and mass transit – with trams and much more on the table.”
The Banana Bridge is officially known as Langton Street Bridge after a road which was destroyed by bombing in the Second World War – photo: Martin Booth
Main photo: Martin Booth
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