Published: Friday 10 April 2026
Albert Bridge has reopened to pedestrians and cyclists. The Council closed the bridge on the afternoon of Wednesday 8 April 2026 after data captured by sensors showed some unexpected changes to movement. Engineers were on site checking the movement and have been monitoring changes. They are now satisfied that the pattern of movement does not present any additional risk and it is safe to reopen to cyclists and pedestrians. The bridge remains closed to motor traffic.
The bridge has been closed to motor traffic since 7 February 2026 when engineers discovered a crack in a cast iron component in the north eastern abutment.
Temperature can impact the way the bridge moves and this is the likely cause of the change on Wednesday, when temperatures reached 25 degrees. Temperature changes alone are not a cause for concern, but the bridge is under careful monitoring due to the cracked component, and any changes need to be investigated to ensure the condition is not significantly worsening.
To address the issue that led to Wednesday’s closure, a temporary prop will be installed to help support the weakened component. This will reduce the risk of further closures to pedestrians and cyclists while a permanent fix is implemented. This work is due to be complete next week, by 17 April 2026.
Andrew Burton, director of highways and regulatory services, said:
“We’re sorry for the inconvenience the temporary closure caused to pedestrians and cyclists. It was a necessary decision so we could monitor the bridge and ensure the extra movement we were seeing didn’t put people at risk. Our top priority is safety and protecting the bridge for the future, so it’s important that we act when our sensors pick up any change. We have a temporary solution coming in very soon which will stabilise the damaged component and help reduce the need for further closures for pedestrians and cyclists.”
The Council decided on a permanent fix and further improvement works in March. Read more about the decision.
See the initial announcement about the bridge’s closure.