The Clifton Suspension Bridge may be forced to close to motor traffic unless the Clifton Suspension Bridge Trust can secure £20 million over the next 25 years to fund critical maintenance. To address this, the Trust has launched a public consultation proposing to raise the bridge toll from £1 to £1.50 per journey.
Currently undergoing extensive renovations to its paintwork and lighting systems, the bridge’s ironwork—over 160 years old—requires regular upkeep to prevent deterioration. This maintenance cycle occurs every 25 years, and with rising inflation, the Trust estimates it will need £20 million to finance the upcoming round of repairs scheduled for 2049-2050.
If the toll increase is approved, it would be the first rise in a decade. The Trust emphasizes that building sufficient financial reserves is crucial to preserving the bridge’s structural integrity. Without timely interventions, corrosion risks could force the bridge’s closure to ensure public safety, significantly impacting transport within Bristol and surrounding areas.
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The Trust’s goal in raising tolls is to maintain the Clifton Suspension Bridge as a functional transport link rather than letting it become merely a historic landmark. Each year, some three million vehicles use the bridge. The report highlights the dangers of deferred maintenance by comparing the Clifton Suspension Bridge to London’s Hammersmith Bridge, which has been closed to motor traffic since 2020 due to costly restoration work estimated at £250 million.
Despite being half the length and a twentieth of the height of Clifton, Hammersmith Bridge’s prolonged closure serves as a cautionary example of the potential consequences of neglecting scheduled repairs on the Clifton Suspension Bridge.
The Trust’s proposal entails an immediate toll increase to £1.50 starting January 2027, followed by annual rises linked to a construction inflation index. Toll revenues currently contribute £2.6 million annually toward the Trust’s total income of £3.1 million. Notably, the Trust receives no public funding from government bodies at any level.
Public consultation on the proposed toll increase will remain open until Friday, November 7. Afterward, the Trust plans to submit its formal application to the Department for Transport to implement the new toll rates.