‘Loud music’ could have caused bridge collapse in Bristol

Loud music played on Halloween could have been responsible for the collapse of a popular footbridge in Bristol, according to the chair of the city’s harbour committee.

Pero’s bridge, a footbridge in the city centre that is built to split open and lift up to allow boats to pass through, was first left partially hanging due to a mechanical failure in the summer.

Then, on the evening of 31 October, part of it collapsed into the water.

Bristol councillor Andrew Brown said that “external vibrations disturbing the balance of the structure” could have been the final straw for the bridge.

“These could have resulted from gusts of wind, nearby heavy road traffic or loud music being played through speakers on the shore,” he said in a blog post on the Bristol council website on Friday.

He added that since the breakage, teams from across Bristol City Council, Bristol Harbour Authority and specialist contractors had been working on a recovery plan “for the safe removal of the bridge spans”. Mr Brown said the aim would be to return the bridge back to use in the harbour for summer 2027.

The bridge had already been in “critical need of repair” prior to its collapse and in March the Harbour Committee had approved a £1.54m plan to temporarily remove it for this work.

The repairs were due to begin in November but at around 11pm, just days before work was due to begin, the middle section of the structure fell into the water beneath.

“We cannot be entirely sure of the exact cause of the latest movement,” Mr Brown said.

Over the coming days, four large floating rubber fenders with a 3-metre diameter are to be put in place “to help float and stabilise the centre span while preparations for the lift continue”, he wrote.

“Since its opening in 1999, Pero’s bridge has been one of the most used crossings within Bristol Harbour providing a link between the bars, restaurants and attractions that line the waterfront and a key route over the harbour for residents and visitors,” wrote Mr Brown. “As a recognisable feature within our city, it acts as a focal and meeting point in the area.”

The council has rejected the prospect of installing a temporary bridge in the interim due to the “significant cost” of construction.