Gaol Ferry Bridge, Footbridge in South Bristol, England
Gaol Ferry Bridge is a steel lattice suspension bridge that spans the New Cut of the River Avon, connecting Coronation Road in Southville to Cumberland Road. The structure measures around 60 meters and allows pedestrians and cyclists to cross between the two sides of the river.
The bridge opened in 1935 and replaced a ferry service that transported passengers across the river near Bristol's former prison. The name comes from this old jail, known as the New Gaol, which gave the ferry its name.
The bridge connects two residential areas and is used daily by many locals to cross between neighborhoods. It serves as an important meeting point between the communities on either side of the river.
The bridge has been restored following extensive repairs and provides a direct route for pedestrians and cyclists between Southville and Wapping Wharf. Access is free and the structure makes it easy to cross in both directions.
Below Coronation Road next to St Paul's Churchyard, you can still see old stone ramps that remind visitors of the former ferry. These remnants show where passengers once boarded the ferry before it was replaced by this modern bridge.
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