Emergency work on Brunel Way will take place tonight. A lane on Brunel Way (A3029), travelling northbound over the Cumberland Basin flyover, has been closed as a safety precaution since Saturday (January 18) and a 30mph limit introduced for traffic travelling towards the city centre.
The emergency work includes cutting out a section of the expansion joint on Avon Bridge – a structural component – and covering it with concrete. Both lanes of Brunel Way travelling northbound will close between 7pm tonight and and 6am tomorrow.
A diversion is being put in place taking people over Bedminster Bridge. The route will go from Brunel Way on to Jessop Underpass, Clift House Road and Coronation Road, across Bedminster Bridge, along Commercial Road, Cumberland Road and Smeaton Road, then on to Brunel Lock Road.
Bristol City Council says the lane closure on Brunel Way may need to remain in place on Friday (January 24), but the road is expected to reopen fully by Saturday. The speed limit will be reduced to 20mph northbound as a safety precaution until longer-term repairs can be carried out.
This longer-term work, that will see expansion joints either side of Avon Bridge replaced, will take place overnight in two phases this spring.
The first closure will be northbound from Monday March 17-22 between 7pm and 6am. The second closure will be southbound from Monday, March 24-29,between 7pm and 6am. Diversion routes across Bedminster Bridge will be signposted. There will be lane closures in place during the day throughout the works. The council says the works are expected some delays.
Councillor Ed Plowden, chair of the transport & connectivity committee, said: “We are sorry for the disruption caused by the unplanned lane closure and works.
“As soon as we discovered the expansion joint had failed, we booked in the emergency work as a matter of urgency and are pleased that we should be able to reopen the lane later this week, albeit at a reduced speed.
“We are considering the future of the Cumberland Basin road system as part of the Western Harbour proposals. In the meantime, we need to carry out regular repairs to make sure this aging infrastructure is structurally sound.
“We have planned in the one-way closures to take place overnight to reduce the impact. However, we recommend planning ahead and leaving more time for your journeys or finding alternative routes throughout these works.
“Thank you for your patience while we continue to maintain the Cumberland Basin road system.”
An expansion joint on a bridge is a structural component that allows the bridge to expand and contract due to changes in temperature and the weight of vehicles. These joints are placed at intervals along the bridge to accommodate movements and prevent damage. Essentially, they help the bridge ‘flex’ without cracking or breaking.