Path closed for work on ‘bridge to nowhere’
❝ Changing Temple Island into a new neighbourhood is one of the city’s most important urban development projects
ARIVERSIDE path will be closed for more than a month as works are carried out on Bristol’s ‘bridge to nowhere.’
Cyclists and pedestrians will be unable to access part of St Philip’s Greenway along the River Avon, near Temple Meads train station, for six weeks.
The stretch affected is between Feeder Road and Victor Street, and the closure started last week.
Metal barriers have blocked the entrance and a yellow sign advises it will be out-of-bounds until Monday, August 17.
Bristol City Council said the temporary closure is due to work to the neighbouring St Philip’s footbridge, which was dubbed the ‘bridge to nowhere’ when it opened last year.
The bridge was designed to link St Philip’s to the planned arena at Temple Island, before Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees scrapped plans for an arena at the site.
The exit on the other side of the bridge is closed off, meaning people walking along the bridge find they have to turn around and come back again.
A council spokesperson said: “Part of the St Philip’s Greenway between Victor Street and Feeder Road is temporarily closed to allow for work to the St Philip’s footbridge.
“The works were originally planned to begin in April this year, but were subject to delay due to the coronavirus.
“The path is expected to be reopened in August 2020.”
When asked for more specifics about the work being carried out, the spokesperson added: “This is general maintenance work with the closure taking place because it is on or near the path in question.”
The authority has advised Albert Road can be used as an alternative route until the works are finished.
Major development is planned for Temple Island, even without the arena, including 500 homes, a hotel with rooftop bar, shops and restaurants - read more about the latest plans here.
Once building has been completed, the bridge will be able to serve its purpose in linking the two locations.
The footpath entrance can be seen on the left and the other bridge to Temple Island (separate to the footbridge and formerly known as Arena Bridge and renamed Brock’s Bridge) is to the right.
Work on the footbridge started in August 2017 and was completed in May 2019, but the council has not described the nature of the maintenance being carried out there.
The entrance to the bridge is forked, providing a stepped access and a ramp suitable for cyclists, pushchairs and wheelchairs.
The footpath along the River Avon was also upgraded as part of the works, with new lighting to make the route safer at night.
Project information published by Knight Architects, which designed the bridge, states: “Changing Temple Island into a new neighbourhood is one of the city’s most important urban development projects.
“The bridge is planned as a catalyst for urban regeneration, setting the new quality benchmark for the future development of the area.”