News / Transport
Prince Street Bridge could finally be closed to cars
A bridge over the Floating Harbour could close to cars as part of wider changes to the area surrounding the docks.
Prince Street Bridge would be reserved for people walking, cycling or wheeling under the proposals.
The planned closure of the bridge to cars forms part of the huge Harbour Place Shaping Strategy which will take two decades to come to fruition.
An update on the plans was given to councillors on the economy & skills policy committee, who were split over whether the closure would be a good idea with warnings of extra congestion elsewhere in the city.
Cars currently use only one side of Prince Street Bridge when heading towards the M Shed, with pedestrians and cyclists squashed onto the other half of the span.
Since the bridge was partially closed to motor traffic a few years ago and cars can only drive across southbound, council data suggests a 146 per cent increase in active travel users.
Cyclists and pedestrians use the same side of Prince Street Bridge – photo: Martin Booth
Conservative councillor Mark Weston said: “I really don’t think we should close Prince Street Bridge to traffic.
“There are only so many bridges across the river (sic). Once you start knocking out one bridge or a second bridge, any time there’s a major traffic problem anywhere in the city, the traffic will flow like water.
“The less places it can flow, the less resilience in our system.”
Green councillor Toby Wells added: “Prince Street Bridge carries far more pedestrians and cyclists than it does people in private motor vehicles, but they’re squeezed into a much smaller space.
“That whole traffic area south of Baldwin Street, there’s only one way in, Redcliffe Bascule Bridge, so there only needs to be one way out to get the same traffic capacity.
“Bristol Bridge is also available in the event that any of the other bridges are closed, as regularly happens.
“So I don’t think it’s a big deal and we should support the closure.”
Segregated cycle lanes for the win on Bristol Bridge thanks to the previous Labour administration – photo: Martin Booth
Other plans as part of the Harbour Place Shaping Strategy include a new ferry service that would run between the M Shed and the Lloyds Amphitheatre, and a path along Castle Park at water level along the Floating Harbour.
Any final decision on closing the bridge would be taken by the transport policy committee, after traffic modelling and public consultation.
A wider problem in the area is the struggle to push a wheelchair or buggy along the cobblestone pavements.
Labour councillor Kelvin Blake called it “an absolute nightmare” for wheelchair users.
Blake said: “The cobbles have not been maintained particularly well, so you have big gaps in them. Any development we do has to look at the pavement space.
“I don’t care about closing Prince Street Bridge to able-bodied people. My worry is that accessing that side of your town when you’re disabled, and particularly if you have a wheelchair, is particularly difficult.
“I do it often. I get off the bus and wheel from the Centre, and I always dread that space past the hotels or in front of the Arnolfini. It’s really difficult to access.
“I think we have to put disabled people’s views in front of the heritage argument.”
Main photo: Martin Booth
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