News / Transport
Cheesegrater bridge reopens after more than 18 months
Meads Reach Bridge, better known as the cheesegrater bridge, has been cordoned off since September 2017 when its deck panels were seriously damaged after a lorry attempted to drive over it.
Much to the delight of pedestrians and cyclists, the bridge has now reopened, once again linking St Philip’s with Temple Meads.
Constructed from stainless steel and weighing 75 tonnes, the 55m long bridge, designed by Niall McLaughlin Architects, was built in 2008 and awarded a Royal Institute of British Architecture award the following year.
is needed now More than ever
Following complaints from cyclists who had accidents on the bridge even when travelling fairly slowly, anti-slip rubber was later laid over its original metal surface.
Bristol24/7 understands that the £2.4m bridge took so long to reopen due to a protracted wrangling over an insurance claim for the damage.
Vicki Williams of Avison Young Property Management Consultancy, managers of the Temple Quay estate, said: “We’re delighted that Meads Reach Bridge is now set to open again to cyclists and pedestrians, returning the crossing to this stretch of the Floating Harbour.
“We’d like to thank users of the bridge for their patience while the repairs have been completed. It’s been absolutely essential that the repairs have been carried out to the highest standards by contractors expert in this type of bridge construction.
“We’re now very pleased to return the bridge to its rightful position as a popular cycle and pedestrian route.”
Read more: Bristol’s second bridge to nowhere opens
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