New harbour bridge for Bristol's rapid transit bus route

A new bridge could be built over Bristol's historic Floating Harbour to allow rapid transit buses to travel into the city.

Sitting alongside the Prince Street swing bridge, it would be one of a number of structures to be built as part of the proposed rapid transit route.

The £26 million scheme would be the first of a network of high-speed bus links around the city and would connect the park and ride site at Long Ashton to Temple Meads railway station.

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It would need new bridges to travel over the freight rail line from Portbury as well as a new underpass beneath Cumberland Road.

The West of England Partnership is currently consulting on these initial plans for the rapid transit route which is expected to be up and running by 2013.

At the same time, it is also looking for public feedback on a link route – either a new road or another rapid transit system – to extend the Avon Ring Road around the south half of the city.

This would see a new link between the Hartcliffe roundabout, the A38 and the A370 Long Ashton bypass.

Planners were at Temple Meads Station yesterday as part of a series of exhibitions to show the public what they want to do and get feedback on the two proposals.

The news about the new bridge into Prince Street comes shortly after Bristol City Council revealed plans to close one side of the existing swing bridge to vehicles.

Some groups believed this would make the other side – intended for use by cyclists and pedestrians – available for the rapid transit system.

But the two schemes are unrelated to each other and that an entirely new structure would need to be put in place to let the rubber- wheeled buses run across the Harbourside.

West of England Partnership spokeswoman Julia Dean said: "We are still working on the design of the scheme and need to take into account the results of consultation before we know what the final cost will be.

"The initial cost estimate of £26 million is based on current prices of other schemes being built in the UK as well as looking at specific cost items such as bridges.

"It is likely that a new bridge will be provided to cross the Portbury Freight Line and we are working with Network Rail on this.

There may also need to be some works to the Ashton Avenue and Vauxhall bridges, and the city council is also looking at ways to cater for access over Prince Street bridge.

"In total, bridge works are expected to be almost a quarter of the costs at around six to seven million pounds. As we are still looking at options in the city centre, therefore the total cost of the scheme could change depending on what people want to see delivered."