News / Chocolate Path
‘Definitive date’ to reopen Chocolate Path
It was meant to reopen in 2021, then early 2023, then the end of July.
Now the council has given “a definitive date” for the reopening of the Chocolate Path, which has been closed since December 2017 with part of it collapsing into the New Cut in January 2020.
The reopening of the Chocolate Path on September 4 will finally mark the completion of the stablisation of Cumberland Road, which will be unable to be used by cars heading into the city centre when it reopens.
is needed now More than ever
A new bus gate will mean that only buses, taxis, cycles, e-scooters and emergency vehicles will be able to travel eastbound; but all vehicles will still be able to drive westbound towards the Cumberland Basin.
The bus gate will be installed to the east of Gas Ferry Road, so cars can travel eastbound up to this point, meaning access to the SS Great Britain will be retained.
Although the work to stabilise Cumberland Road will be completed by September 4, the road will not reopen to inbound traffic because a new bus gate will be installed – photo: Martin Booth
Cabinet member for transport, Don Alexander, said: “I am really pleased we have a definitive date to reopen the Chocolate Path.
“The work to stabilise Cumberland Road and reinstate the historic pathway and a section of the Harbour Railway has been a massive and complex engineering project, which has uncovered lots of unknowns along the way.
“These works have safeguarded the future of the popular Chocolate Path for many pedestrians and cyclists who use it.
“I appreciate this is a very important route for bus users to the Park & Ride, and also for many pedestrians and cyclists who use it.
“No traffic, other than buses and cycles, have been able to travel the full length of Cumberland Road into the city centre since 2020 because of the stabilisation works.
“Having a bus gate on this route will help towards meeting vital goals to reduce air pollution in Bristol, while improving bus journey times and reliability.
“It will also benefit residents and people walking and cycling on Spike Island.
“I would like to thank everyone for bearing with us while these important construction works are completed, helping to safeguard our harbour infrastructure.”
Main photo: Martin Booth
Read next:
- Tides blamed for latest delays to Chocolate Path repairs
- Could collapse of Cumberland Road wall mean rethink of Western Harbour plans?
- Dire warnings over future of New Cut
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