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.
These were built between 1804 and 1809, using mainly masonry with hydraulic lime mortar.
The river walls have lasted for more than 200 years. However, the masonry is now deteriorating rapidly and the condition of the walls is getting worse.
We are working to secure more funding to address the serious and growing risks posed by the aging infrastructure.
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 9 New Cut bridges.
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 5-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
- removing vegetation from both sides of the New Cut river walls to assess structural damage
- emergency works and long-term repairs to the river wall either side of Langton Street Bridge (Banana Bridge) on York Road
- repaired a section of river wall by the Old City Gaol entrance using a protective mesh
- carried out detailed ground investigations on the south bank of the New Cut river wall alongside Coronation Road from July to September 2026, to help us plan in the long-term repairs that are expected to start in 2027
Investigations into the south bank of the New Cut river wall alongside Coronation Road
We're carrying out detailed investigations on the south bank alongside Coronation Road, to help us plan how we are going to repair the river walls/embankment and stabilise the road.
This is a stretch of the embankment that runs alongside Coronation Road, from Bristol Metal Spraying next to Walter Street at the western end to just beyond Camden Road at the eastern end.
To do the work safely, we needed to close some sections of road and pavement. These were all lifted by 18 September 2026.
Some investigatory work will continue in the area, but this shouldn’t cause any disruption to traffic or pedestrians.
Following this, structural engineers will start designing various types of stabilisation solutions, with the main stabilisation work expected to get start in early 2027.
Once we have completed these investigatory works, structural engineers will start designing various types of stabilisation solutions, with the main repair work expected to start in early 2027.
We will keep this page updated as this project progresses onto the repairs stage.
Cumberland Road repairs: opposite the entrance to the Old City Gaol
Work to strengthen a section of New Cut river wall next to Cumberland Road took place from November 2025 to September 2026.
The section of river wall is opposite the entrance to the Old City Gaol, between Gaol Ferry Bridge and Bathurst Swing Bridge.
The essential repairs included:
- laying concrete and rock foundations on the riverbed
- fixing and anchoring the wall
- covering the wall with mesh to hold it in place
York Road stabilisation: permanent works
In July 2024 we started emergency repairs to stabilise the river wall either side of Langton Street Bridge (Banana Bridge), which included placing 600 one-tonne bags on the river bank.
We started the long-term, permanent repairs in December 2024. These include:
- installing a retaining wall of sheet-piles at the top of the bank to stabilise York Road
- installing sheet-piles to support the river wall
- installing scour protection to prevent fast-moving water from eroding soil and sediment from around underwater structures
- rebuilding the riverbank with granular materials and top soil held in place with erosion matting
- planting trees and vegetation along the stabilised embankment
- road resurfacing works
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.
Structures Fund grant application
In August 2026 we submitted 2 bids to the Department for Transport's (DfT) Structures Fund.
One of these bids seeks to bring in investment to repair the New Cut walls on the south bank of the River Avon.
We will find out if the funding bid has been successful in autumn 2026.
Full details of the applications can be found on the Structures Fund grant applications webpage in the meantime.