Banana Bridge
Banana Bridge | |
|---|---|
Banana Bridge in 2019 | |
| Coordinates | 51°26′44.32″N 2°35′7.24″W / 51.4456444°N 2.5853444°W |
| Carries | Pedestrians and cyclists |
| Crosses | New Cut, River Avon |
| Official name | Langton Street Bridge |
| Named for | Langton Street, a nearby road that is no longer present |
| Preceded by | Bath Bridge |
| Followed by | Bedminster Bridge |
| Characteristics | |
| Total length | 134 ft (41 m)[1] |
| History | |
| Designer | Mr. F. Ashmead (borough engineer)[2] |
| Constructed by | Edward Finch & Co of Chepstow[2] |
| Construction start | 1882[1] |
| Opened | 1883[1] |
| Location | |
Banana Bridge, officially Langton Street Bridge, is a wrought iron arched bowstring footbridge that crosses the New Cut, part of the River Avon flowing through Bristol, England.[1][3][4] It is Grade II listed.[5]
When constructed in 1883 between Langton Street and St. Luke's Road, the bridge was said to be a temporary route while the nearby Bedminster Bridge was rebuilt.[6] Langton Street has since been lost to bombings in World War 2.[3] Upon completion of Bedminster Bridge in 1884, the temporary bridge was moved upstream to its current position near the former location of Langton Street.[7]
Repair and refurbishment
Between May 2024 and June 2025, Langton Street Bridge was closed for repairs at a cost of £1.4 million as part of Bristol City Council's New Cut Bridges Restoration Programme.[8][9] The project involved repairs to the bridge's structure, masonry, and decking and also included the installation of a new handrail. The bridge re-opened on 20 June 2025.[9]
References
- ^ a b c d "Langton Street Bridge, Bristol". Grace's Guide To British Industrial History. 2023-03-12. Retrieved 2025-06-20.
- ^ a b Booth, Martin (2024-05-16). "Things you probably didn't know about the Banana Bridge". Bristol 24/7. Retrieved 2025-06-20.
- ^ a b Taylor, Mark (2023-09-05). "The Bristol footbridge that was supposed to be temporary when it was built 140 years ago". BristolWorld. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
- ^ "The New Cut 2". Bristol Floating Harbour. 2009-11-04. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
- ^ "LANGTON STREET BRIDGE, Non Civil Parish - 1202723". Historic England. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
- ^ "Article clipped from Daily Bristol Times and Mirror". Daily Bristol Times and Mirror. 1883-11-30. p. 5. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
- ^ "Restoration of New Cut bridges". bristol.gov.uk. Retrieved 2025-06-20.
- ^ "New Cut bridges restoration programme update". bristol.gov.uk. 2024-07-17. Retrieved 2025-06-20.
- ^ a b Cavanagh, Claire (2025-06-20). "'Banana bridge' reopening after year-long closure". BBC News. Retrieved 2025-06-20.