Plimsoll Bridge became stuck while in the middle of a swing yesterday afternoon, causing traffic chaos during rush hour. Engineers worked through the night to fix the fault and by 7am this morning it had reopened.
The bridge became stuck at 4.15pm after it was opened to allow a yacht to pass underneath. It is thought that an electrical fault is to blame.
Bristol City Council docks manager Richard Smith said that the disruption it caused “was the worst in living memory” affected by a bridge swing.
Queues stretched across the city, with some car drivers reporting that they were stationary for more than two hours.
This was the most stressfull drive home ever! I hope some one is feeling very ashamed now! They totes let the side down! I’m going to write some very strong words to someone about this! You have been told!!
It took me 4 hours and 5 minutes to get from Portishead to collect my daughter from Bristol Cathderal Choir School (who was then left vulnerable as she waited for nearly three hours on the street), and then back home again. No police were visible whatsoever in order to help direct traffic and people were jumping lights which added to the chaos. Boats should wait in the lock until after rush hour is finished – commuting traffic should not be kept waiting for one vessel to pass under the bridge – absolutely ridiculous.
Even rush hours have to wait for tides.