Project objectives, the programme so far, upcoming and ongoing works.

Our New Cut river wall stabilisation project is an £11.9 million initiative aimed at securing and reinforcing high risk river walls along the New Cut of the River Avon.

The project is a critical step in addressing safety concerns around erosion and instability along the riverbank, to safeguard Bristol harbourside communities and infrastructure into the future.

It's one of a number of key harbourside infrastructure projects that include restoring six New Cut bridges over five years.

Project objectives

  • Stabilise and reinforce high risk retaining river walls long the Floating Harbour and New Cut.
  • Mitigate the potential consequences of river wall failures, including loss of life, flooding, property damage, and traffic disruption.
  • Implement a five-year stabilisation programme to address immediate risks and ensure long-term resilience.

Programme so far

Work started in March 2024 and has included:

  • repairing the river wall on the southwest corner of Bedminster Bridge where the roundabout joins Coronation Road
  • investigatory works to the river wall alongside Cumberland Road, 90 metres from Gaol Ferry Bridge
  • investigatory works to the natural rock faces along the riverbank near Gaol Ferry Bridge
  • emergency works to place one-tonne bags on the bank either side of Langton Street Bridge (Banana Bridge) to reduce the tidal pressure on the wall until long-term repairs can be carried out

York Road stabilisation: permanent works

We are starting the permanent repairs to stabilise York Road from 28 October 2024.

It will mean the partial road closure will remain in place.

We have decided this, because:

  • The plans are designed and our contractor is mobilised on site.
  • It is the most efficient way to get the work done, reducing the overall length of the project.
  • It will lower the chance of the river wall collapsing.
  • The work needs to fit in with the sequencing of the repairs needed to Bath and Bedminster twin bridges.

The work will include:

  • Installing a sheet-piled retaining wall at the top of the bank to stabilise York Road.
  • Building a concrete piled wall behind the existing river wall.
  • Planting trees and vegetation along the stabilised embankment.

Partial road closure

We need to keep a section of York Road closed for the first stage of this work to allow our contractor enough space to start the permanent repairs.

The work site will remain where it is to start with, meaning York Road will stay closed between St Luke's Road towards the Bath Bridges roundabout. Once this initial work is complete, the closure will move to the other side between St Luke's and Spring Street.

The diversion via St Luke's Road will remain in place, and access to York Road will be retained for residents, pedestrians and cyclists.

Motorcycles

Motorcycles must use the on-road diversion. There are signs on the road to reinforce this and we have put barriers in place to prevent people from driving on the pavements and have raised the issue with the police.

Timings

The first stage of the permanent repairs will start from 28 October 2024 and should be completed in the spring of 2025.

This will lead onto the second stage of the project, which will see York Road reopen to traffic but with one side of the road remaining closed. Temporary traffic lights will be used so road traffic can travel in both directions.

The second stage of permanent repairs should take up to one year to complete, depending on factors such as bad weather and unexpected ground conditions.

Thank you

We understand how inconvenient the road closure is. Thank you for your patience so far. We are asking you to bear with us again as we start on the permanent repairs that will safeguard York Road and the river wall for future generations.

Vegetation clearance

We need to remove vegetation, including plants, grass and weeds,  from both sides of the New Cut river walls so we can assess any structural damage and plan in the repairs.

Under the guidance of ecologists, this work will start on Cumberland Road from the Create Centre and move along the New Cut towards Bathurst Bridge. It will then cross to other side of the river to Coronation Road, starting from the Texaco Garage and going towards Bedminster Bridges.

The vegetation clearance will start on 28 October 2024 and is expected to take around three months to complete. It will mean sections of pavement will need to be closed temporarily, but it should not impact the roads.

Ongoing works and wider programme

  • Inspection of natural rock faces near Gaol Ferry Bridge.
  • Minor repairs on various sections of river walls along the New Cut as required.
  • Repairing Underfall Sluice footbridge, further investigations, ecological assessments, and vegetation clearance at additional river wall sites.

Key features

  • Any vegetation clearance will be supervised by ecologists to ensure minimal environmental impact during works.
  • Griffiths, the council's contractor, is carrying out the works.