News / Transport
‘No guarantee’ Prince St Bridge will reopen
Mayor of Bristol George Ferguson has said he cannot guarantee that Prince Street Bridge will reopen to traffic when repairs are finished.
The bridge, which was closed in August this year for emergency repairs due to corrosion, was due to reopen in spring 2016, but the date was put back last week until the summer.
It was revealed on Tuesday night at a meeting of full council that it is now estimated the swing bridge will open in the autumn, pending reports on its state of disrepair.
Challenging the mayor over the closure, which has led to daily congestion in the centre of Bristol, Conservative councillor Graham Morris, Stockwood, asked if Ferguson could guarantee the bridge would reopen at all.
Ferguson replied that it was impossible to know the outcome of on-going investigations into the state of the bridge. He added: “It would be irresponsible to guarantee it (will reopen). I would like to, but I can’t.”
The news came a week after the city was thrown into gridlock by traffic light failure. It also comes a week after Bristol24/7 revealed that the reopening of Cattle Market Road, which was due in December, would also now be delayed until next August.
The closures of both Prince Street Bridge and Cattle Market Road have been blamed for increasing congestion around the city centre.
Members of the Conservative Party have previously raised concerns that the long-term closure of Prince Street Bridge would evolve into a planned permanent closure.
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