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.
Early programme
Work will start with repairs to a river wall next to Bedminster Bridge on 4 March followed by investigatory works at three locations in the spring:
- Repair work from 4 March to the river wall on the southwest corner of Bedminster Bridge where the roundabout joins Coronation Road. The road will remain open, but a section of the pavement will be narrowed.
- Investigatory works in the spring at the river wall alongside Cumberland Road, 90 metres from Gaol Ferry Bridge. A section of pavement and a single lane on Cumberland Road will need to be closed temporarily.
- Investigatory works in the spring at the natural rock faces along the riverbank near Gaol Ferry Bridge – the bridge will remain open throughout these works.
- Investigatory works in the spring at the river wall alongside York Road next to Langton Street Bridge, also known as Banana Bridge. A section of pavement and a single lane on York Road will need to be closed temporarily, however during this work access to the bridge will not be affected.
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, will carry out the works.