It’s day one of the start of a multi-million pound project to strengthen the Grade 2* listed Cleveland Bridge and already the one-way traffic lights that have been installed are creating London Road tailbacks.
The lights will operate during the construction of scaffolding to enable work in earnest to get underway.
Then the bridge will be completely closed to vehicular traffic for three to four months.
Pedestrians, cyclists and e-scooters will still be able to cross.
The 193-year-old bridge – currently affected by an emergency 18-ton weight limit on vehicles crossing – provides a vital link from the South Coast to the M4.
It was built for the Duke of Cleveland – on the site of an ancient ferry crossing – in 1826.
Considered one of the finest late Georgian crossings – of its type – in Greek Revival style, it was reconstructed in 1928 and repaired and strengthened in 1992.
The bridge was originally constructed in 1826 for horse-drawn vehicles and pedestrians, now carries 17,000 vehicles a day including more than 600 HGVs.
The repairs to Cleveland Bridge will require one of the most significant road maintenance projects the council has undertaken for many years.
The B&NES website offers the following information:
“The closure of Cleveland Bridge will unfortunately affect congestion in Bath, both on the A36 and other roads, as people find alternative routes to get to their destination.
We will put in place some temporary measures with the aim of keeping traffic moving, but are encouraging anyone who can to use alternative ways to get around. Even if you don’t normally drive over Cleveland Bridge, the city centre will be much busier than normal, so consider using the Park & Ride sites, regular buses, or walking and cycling for shorter trips.
You can explore alternative travel options below, or if you want to compare different possibilities, use the Travelwest Journey Planner.”
