Pero Bridge in Bristol was closed this morning after witnesses said it collapsed, with a barrier put across the pathway and a clear break visible in the footbridge. The span crosses St Augustine's Reach in Bristol harbour, and council and harbour authority staff were at the scene.
Bristol harbour scene
People near the bridge were diverted by the barrier, while photos and videos showed the damaged crossing and staff looking at the underside from land and from a boat. One witness said the bridge had just failed its maintenance check and that the middle was hanging into the harbour.
Another witness said a fence was being put across to block people, and that a lady said it had collapsed right in front of her and had only just happened. A third witness, who said they were at the V-Shed, heard what sounded like a crack and saw it come crashing down.
Witness accounts
That account left one point unsettled: Bristol City Council had not confirmed exactly what happened. The same witness said no person was on the bridge at the time and engineers seemed to be testing it, while also saying it did not come down fast because it was under hydraulic pressure and that this had failed.
Pero's Bridge opened in 1999 and was named after Pero Jones. Bristol City Council said in June 2025 that three tonnes of padlocks attached to the footbridge were to be removed, after locks were removed by the council over a decade ago and then replaced within a few years.
Pero Jones bridge
For people trying to cross the area, the immediate change is simple: the route is shut, and access is blocked by barriers while staff inspect the structure. The open question is what caused the failure and whether the bridge was being tested or undergoing maintenance when it came down.
