The Grade II listed, iron and steel bridge was shut on May 13 last year
The Banana Bridge has reopened
After more than a year of repairs Langton Street Bridge – better known as the Banana Bridge – has reopened to the public.
The Grade II listed, iron and steel bridge was shut on May 13 last year, to conduct its first major works since its construction in 1883.
The Banana Bridge crosses the River Avon to connect Langton Street and St. Luke’s Road.
It is located between Bedminster Bridge and Bath Bridge and provides a pedestrian link between the north and south of the river.
The much-loved bridge named for its arched structure and yellow colour, reopened five months ahead of schedule today (Friday, June 20) following a full restoration.
It was officially opened by the Lord Mayor of Bristol, accompanied by city transport chiefs and pupils from St Mary Redcliffe Primary School and Oasis Academy Temple Quarter.
Councillor Ed Plowden, chair of Bristol City Council’s transport and connectivity committee, said: “I am delighted that we have reopened Banana Bridge as I know many of the pupils from nearby schools and plenty of local people have missed being able to use it, so we will all be pleased it has reopened early.
“It is looking very smart and more banana-like than ever with its fresh coat of yellow paint. The refurbishment has safe-guarded this Grade II listed structure for many years to come, maintaining important connections across the New Cut and a piece of Bristol’s heritage.
The restoration work, which started in May 2024, has seen Langton Street Bridge’s structure, masonry and decking repaired, the bridge strengthened and repainted, a new handrail installed, and its surface paving stones re-laid.
The repair project has cost around £1.4 million, which is being funded by the Department for Transport’s City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement, secured by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority.
The Banana Bridge is the third to have its refurbishment completed as part of the £16 million investment into restoring the New Cut bridges.
New Brislington Bridge was repaired in 2024 and the Goal Ferry Bridge refurbishment was completed in 2023.
Three other bridges currently still have work ongoing – these are the Bathurst Swing Bridge, Sparke Evans Park Bridge and Vauxhall Bridge.
Helen Godwin, West of England mayor, said: “Getting the basics right by fixing our region’s roads and bridges will lay the foundations for a better transport system overall for the West of England.
“Earlier this month, we secured £752 million for that next stage. That means that the West can get out of the slow lane on transport and start to catch up with other city-regions, with better buses, more trains, and mass transit – with trams and much more on the table.”
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