Purpose

Pero’s pedestrian footbridge was
constructed in 1999 and links Narrow Quay to the East, to Bordeaux
Quay to the West, over the Floating Harbour at the cascade steps.
The footbridge is a simply supported bridge with simply supported
fixed side spans to the quays with a central lifting ram type
rolling bascule middle lifting span to allow for shipping. The
bridge is not an Adopted footpath and is owned and maintained by
the City Docks, but is cyclically inspected by the Bridges and
Highway Structures Team. The bridge had a programmed Principal
Inspection on the 19th July 2025, which raised major structural
issues that now require an urgent structural assessment to be
carried out to determine the work required to return the bridge to
normal operation.
This Decision Notice sets out the funding for emergency
investigation works on Pero’s bridge by using £0.2m of
the £1.0 million originally allocated for the Frome Culvert.
The Council’s capital annual planning includes
re-prioritisation of funding for Frome Culvert in 2026.

Content

On 19th July 2025, Capital Investment Board
approved the re-allocation of funding initially allocated to work
on Frome Culverts. Reallocation request was for £1,000,000
with £200,000 for Pero’s Bridge and the remaining
£800,000 for sluice repair at Underfall Yard. Economy and
Skills Committee verified this decision at their 22 September 2025
meeting.

Alternative options considered

Do nothing: This would mean the instant
closure of Pero’s bridge