Avonmouth Bridge

Avonmouth Bridge is a road bridge crossing the River Avon and carrying eight lanes of the M5 motorway between Bristol and Somerset. The structure uses reinforced concrete and steel, designed to allow tall ships to pass underneath while maintaining the main traffic route.

Construction began in 1969 under Fairfield-Mabey, with Tarmac Civil Engineering handling foundations and concrete work, completing the project in 1974. This infrastructure was built to manage growing traffic demands in Southwest England during the 1970s.

The bridge stands as an engineering achievement from the 1970s, designed to accommodate tall ships passing underneath while maintaining essential road connections across the River Avon.

The bridge features a separate footpath and cycleway connecting Avonmouth station with Royal Portbury Dock for pedestrians and cyclists. These routes make it easy for non-motorized travelers to cross the river and access key local destinations on both sides.

Daily traffic volumes on the bridge reached 131,812 vehicles in 2018, making it one of the most utilized transportation links in Southwest England.

Official opening: May 1974

Made from material: reinforced concrete, steel

GPS coordinates: 51.48870,-2.69280

Latest update: December 9, 2025 18:42