Dangerous Bridge closes Kennet & Avon Canal in Bath

The stretch of water from Widcombe Lock (7) the bottom Lock in the Bath Flight — to Weston Lock (6) on the River Avon is closed and there is no forecast of when it might be open for navigation in the future.

Victoria Bridge, Bath: Picture by Bob Naylor©

Victoria Bridge—closed to pedestrians and cyclists Picture by Bob Naylor©

Boats cannot use this part of the River Avon because experts say that a footbridge is too dangerous for boats to go under it. 

Victoria Bridge has been closed to cyclists and pedestrians since October — and last week the towpath alongside the river was closed. Bath and North East Somerset Council say that they are looking into the possibility of a £400,000 temporary repair 'by the summer'  with hopes of a full restoration by 2013.

Victoria Bridge looking splendid in the artist's impression of the Bath Riverside Development

The historic Victoria Bridge was the centrepiece of the controversial 2,000-home Bath Riverside development and local people are expressing dismay that the work has started on the houses but the bridge repair was not part of the agreement between Crest Nicholson and B&NES for the first phase of the project. 

A B&NES spokesman said, "The latest inspection of Victoria Bridge by the council’s independent structural engineers has revealed further deterioration of the structure especially on one of the central hangars.  This is a serious issue because any weakness in the central area of the bridge increases the risk to the structure. We will be implementing temporary emergency strapping to help support the bridge this week."

Victoria Bridge is a Grade 2 listed structure and it is an example of the work of Bath engineer James Dredge. It was built in 1836 and like the many other bridges he designed that are still in use all over the world it is a radical alternative to the established suspension bridge design.

More on this story:

➤➤ Safety fears close bridge over River Avon in Bath

➤➤ Historic river bridge not in Bath Riverside development agreement

To find out more about Dredge bridges go to➤➤ Derrick Hunt's-James Dredge website 

Historic river bridge repair not in Bath's Western Riverside agreement

Victoria Bridge has been the centre piece of promotional material for Bath's Western Riverside development but it will not be repaired as part of the agreement for the first phase of the project that was signed between Crest Nicholson and Bath and North East Somerset Council (B&NES) last week.

  

Promotional picture for Bath's Western Riverside Development with Victoria Bridge centre-stage

The agreement will allow work to start in the New Year on the first 299 homes of the development that will eventually have 2,200 homes on the site between Victoria Bridge and Windsor Bridge — but a Council spokesman said, "The bridge is a side issue and will have to be repaired separately."

The northern entrance to Victoria Bridge - sealed off
Picture by Bob Naylor

Victoria Bridge was closed in August for safety reasons and after an assessment by B&NES' structural engineers, the Council decided to re-open the bridge at a reduced width in October — only to close it again a few days later without giving any explanation except to say that in response to new information it was decided that the bridge should be closed to all users in the interests of public safety.  

Victoria Bridge, a Grade 2 listed structure, is an example of the work of Bath engineer James Dredge. It was built in 1836 and like the many other bridges he designed that are still in use all over the world it is a radical alternative to the established suspension bridge design.

Victoria Bridge — with the shuttering in place to restrict the width of the bridge: Picture by Bob Naylor

For more information about the work of James Dredge go to: Derrick Hunt's-James Dredge website 

Another, smaller scale, example of James Dredge's work can be seen spanning the Kennet & Avon Canal at Wilcot near Pewsey where one of his footbridges links parts of the Stowell Park Estate. 

Safety fears close bridge over River Avon in Bath

Victoria bridge over the River Avon in Bath was re-opened last week after a safety scare had closed it since August, but it has been closed again this week. The bridge is an important link between the two parts of Victoria Road for cyclists and pedestrians and users fear a lengthy closure.

Victoria Bridge over the River Avon in Bath: Picture by Bob Naylor

Bath and North East Somerset Council (B&NES) will not say what the problem is, but a spokesman did say, "We must make a decision which balances public safety with the wish for pedestrians and cyclists to move freely around the city.

     "Following an interim assessment report from our structural engineers, the council decided to re-open the bridge at a reduced width.

     "Further structural investigations have now taken place and in response to new information we have decided that the bridge should be closed to all users in the interests of public safety. He concluded,  "We await a final report from our structural engineers and we can then consider the most effective long-term solution."

An artists impression of Victoria Bridge as part of the proposed
Bath Western River Development

The bridge forms part of the plans for the controversial Bath Western River development between Victoria Bridge and Windsor Bridge to provide 2,200 homes.

Victoria Bridge, designed by Bath engineer James Dredge, was completed in 1836. This bridge, along with the many other bridges all over the world that he designed is a radical alternative to the established suspension bridge design.
     Another example of one of his bridges can be seen spanning the Kennet & Avon Canal at Wilcot — linking parts of the Stowell Park Estate near Pewsey.

To find out more about James Dredge and his bridges go to: 
Derrick Hunt's-James Dredge website