News / Gaol Ferry Bridge
Reopening party to be held for Gaol Ferry Bridge
A party is set to be held to celebrate the planned reopening of Gaol Ferry Bridge on Friday, September 8.
The event from 5pm will see local bars, restaurants and shops taking part in the celebrations for the reopening of the footbridge over the New Cut, linking Southville to Wapping Wharf.
As well as Wapping Wharf retailers offering deals, specials and offers, there will be live music from local brass band, the Ambling Band, from 6.45pm.
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Bar Junction will also be offering a free pint to the first 100 people who show the team a selfie of themselves crossing the bridge.
And Better Food will offer free coffee to their first 50 customers who visit on Saturday, September 9 and Sunday, September 10.
Wapping Wharf retailers are throwing a party for the reopening of Gaol Ferry Bridge on September 8 – photo: Hey!What?
Stuart Hatton, managing director at Umberslade, said: “We’ve been waiting for a reopening date for a long time, so we’re absolutely thrilled to finally have confirmation that this essential route will be back open from September 8.
“It felt only fitting to throw a celebration to welcome everyone back to our amazing independent community and to say thank you to the people of Bristol for all of their continued support!
The reopening will mark 13 months since Gaol Ferry Bridge was first closed for repairs.
Due to be completed by the end of 2022, the bridge repairs have taken considerably longer to complete due to the 90-year-old bridge being in a worse state of repair than expected.
The closure has meant that commuters have had to take a detour over Bedminster Bridge or Vauxhall Bridge, which has resulted in a decreased footfall through Wapping Wharf.
The footbridge over the New Cut, linking Southville to Wapping Wharf, has been closed for 13 months – photo: Martin Booth
Stuart added: “We’ve always known that the closure of Gaol Ferry Bridge for repairs was absolutely necessary, but nobody anticipated that it would be closed for so long.
“The impact has been felt by so many across the city – none more so than the retailers at Wapping Wharf.
“The closure definitely affected footfall, which alongside a cost of living crisis and rising energy bills has put our retailers under immense pressure, but they’ve been so resilient and positive about the whole situation throughout.”
Gaol Ferry Bridge is planned to reopen at 5pm on Friday, September 9, with business at Wapping Wharf open for food, drink and shopping throughout the day and into the evening,
Main photo: Ellie Pipe
Read next:
- Reopening date revealed for Gaol Ferry Bridge
- New and improved plans for next phase of Wapping Wharf
- The gaol ferry that was here before Gaol Ferry Bridge
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