{"id":25946,"date":"2026-09-18T18:04:23","date_gmt":"2026-09-18T18:04:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/?p=25946"},"modified":"2026-09-18T18:04:23","modified_gmt":"2026-09-18T18:04:23","slug":"bristol-spends-9-7-million-on-400m-harbour-walkway-planned-for-2-5-million-to-link-temple-meads-to-an-arena-now-moved-to-filton-it-instead-connects-the-station-to-bristols-500-million-campu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/?p=25946","title":{"rendered":"Bristol spends \u00a39.7 million on 400m Harbour Walkway, planned for \u00a32.5 million to link Temple Meads to an arena now moved to Filton; it instead connects the station to Bristol\u2019s \u00a3500 million campus"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"e9jwa\">\n<div class=\"vdo_embedd\">\n<div class=\"GfdvZ\">\n<section class=\"_bIDB  clearfix id-r-component leadmedia undefined undefined  E9tg9 \" style=\"top:0px\">\n<div class=\"_bIDB\" data-ua-type=\"1\" onclick=\"stpPgtnAndPrvntDefault(event)\">\n<div class=\"ypVvZ\">\n<div class=\"WGttI\"><img src=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-134340234,imgsize-132351,width-400,height-225,resizemode-4\/bristols-97-million-floating-walkway-was-originally-planned-to-serve-a-music-arena.jpg\" alt=\"Bristol spends \u00a39.7 million on 400m Harbour Walkway, planned for \u00a32.5 million to link Temple Meads to an arena now moved to Filton; it instead connects the station to Bristol\u2019s \u00a3500 million campus\" title=\"Bristol\u2019s \u00a39.7 million floating walkway was originally planned to serve a music arena. (Photo: SWNS)\" decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Ta7d_ img_cptn\"><span title=\"Bristol\u2019s \u00a39.7 million floating walkway was originally planned to serve a music arena. (Photo: SWNS)\">Bristol\u2019s \u00a39.7 million floating walkway was originally planned to serve a music arena. (Photo: SWNS)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>A floating walkway that was originally conceived to take visitors from one of Bristol\u2019s busiest railway stations to a major new music arena has finally opened, but the arena it was designed to connect to will now be built around six miles away.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"2\"\/>The Harbour Walkway, which stretches for 400 metres, was initially expected to cost around \u00a32.5 million when it was proposed in 2015. Bristol City Council has ultimately spent \u00a39.7 million on the project, according to SWNS.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"4\"\/>The walkway opened earlier this month and is now being positioned as part of the wider redevelopment around Bristol Temple Meads and the new University of Bristol campus.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"6\"\/><\/p>\n<p><h2>From \u00a32.5 million plan to \u00a39.7 million project<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p>The original idea was relatively straightforward: create a pedestrian and cycling route linking Temple Meads station with a planned 12,000-capacity Bristol Arena.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"11\"\/>But the arena project became embroiled in delays, rising costs and disagreements over its location. Plans for a venue at Temple Meads were eventually abandoned, with the proposed arena moved to the Filton airfield site.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"13\"\/>The new venue is planned to accommodate 17,000 people, but construction has yet to begin.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"15\"\/>By then, however, work on the Harbour Walkway was already progressing.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"17\"\/>The structure was built using floating pontoons manufactured in Spain, contributing to a project that eventually cost almost four times its original \u00a32.5 million estimate.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"20\"\/><\/p>\n<p><h2>What does the walkway connect now?<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<div data-pos=\"0\" class=\"id-r-component iIpbx undefined  &#10;        \">\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The 400-metre Harbour Walkway cost nearly four times its original estimate.\" msid=\"134340278\" imgsize=\"148888\" resizemode=\"4\" width=\"\" title=\"The 400-metre Harbour Walkway cost nearly four times its original estimate. (Photo: SWNS)\" placeholdersrc=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/83033472.cms\" offsetvertical=\"0\" placeholdermsid=\"47529300\" type=\"thumb\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/imgsize-148888,msid-134340278\/the-400-metre-harbour-walkway-cost-nearly-four-times-its-original-estimate.jpg\" data-api-prerender=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<p>The 400-metre Harbour Walkway cost nearly four times its original estimate. (Photo: SWNS)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"23\"\/>Instead of leading concert-goers directly to an arena, the walkway now links the new eastern entrance of Bristol Temple Meads with the University of Bristol\u2019s new \u00a3500 million campus.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"25\"\/>It also connects pedestrians and cyclists to Valentine Bridge, providing a crossing point over the river.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"27\"\/>The walkway starts near the ferry stop between Valentine Bridge and Meads Reach Bridge, passes underneath the railway tracks and ends at Cattle Market Road.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"30\"\/>Bristol City Council says the project is intended to improve pedestrian and cycling connections as part of the wider Temple Quarter regeneration scheme.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"32\"\/><\/p>\n<p><h2>\u2018\u00a310 million is wild\u2019: Social media reacts<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<div data-pos=\"0\" class=\"id-r-component iIpbx undefined  &#10;        \">\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The walkway now connects Bristol Temple Meads with the university\u2019s \u00a3500 million campus.\" msid=\"134340294\" imgsize=\"185499\" resizemode=\"4\" width=\"\" title=\"The walkway now connects Bristol Temple Meads with the university\u2019s \u00a3500 million campus. (Photo: SWNS)\" placeholdersrc=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/83033472.cms\" offsetvertical=\"0\" placeholdermsid=\"47529300\" type=\"thumb\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/imgsize-185499,msid-134340294\/the-walkway-now-connects-bristol-temple-meads-with-the-universitys-500-million-campus.jpg\" data-api-prerender=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<p>The walkway now connects Bristol Temple Meads with the university\u2019s \u00a3500 million campus. (Photo: SWNS)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"35\"\/>The project&#8217;s final price tag has triggered plenty of criticism online, particularly because its original purpose was linked to an arena that is no longer being built at Temple Meads.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"37\"\/>One commenter described it as \u201cone of the most ridiculous pieces of construction in Bristol and potentially British history\u201d.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"40\"\/>Another questioned whether the money could instead have been spent repairing existing pavements and walkways.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"42\"\/>One social media user wrote, \u201c10m? And it leads to an arena that doesn\u2019t exist? Ok.\u201d<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"44\"\/>Another said the walkway looked like \u201ca temporary structure\u201d and questioned what problem it was intended to solve.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"46\"\/>The cost works out at roughly \u00a324,250 per metre based on the \u00a39.7 million figure and the walkway\u2019s 400-metre length.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"49\"\/><\/p>\n<p><h2>Not everyone thinks it is money wasted<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p>The walkway has also received support from some residents.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"52\"\/>One commenter called it \u201clush\u201d, while another welcomed the improved connectivity in the area.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"54\"\/>\u201cGreat to see South East Bristol getting better connected,\u201d one person wrote.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"56\"\/>Another argued that \u00a310 million could represent reasonable value for a public infrastructure project.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"59\"\/>The project is now part of the wider Temple Quarter regeneration, an extensive redevelopment programme involving new homes, public spaces, transport improvements and the University of Bristol\u2019s new campus.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"62\"\/><\/p>\n<p><h2>The arena that changed location<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<div data-pos=\"0\" class=\"id-r-component iIpbx undefined  &#10;        \">\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\u200bThe arena moved to Filton, leaving the walkway with a different purpose.\" msid=\"134340320\" imgsize=\"273088\" resizemode=\"4\" width=\"\" title=\"The arena moved to Filton, leaving the walkway with a different purpose. (Photo: SWNS)\" placeholdersrc=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/83033472.cms\" offsetvertical=\"0\" placeholdermsid=\"47529300\" type=\"thumb\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/imgsize-273088,msid-134340320\/the-arena-moved-to-filton-leaving-the-walkway-with-a-different-purpose.jpg\" data-api-prerender=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<p>The arena moved to Filton, leaving the walkway with a different purpose. (Photo: SWNS)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"65\"\/>The story of the walkway is closely linked to Bristol\u2019s long-running arena plans.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"67\"\/>In 2012, the council proposed a \u00a392.5 million arena at Temple Meads. Plans for a 12,000-capacity venue were approved in 2014, but the project subsequently faced delays and disputes.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"69\"\/>Former mayor Marvin Rees later began negotiations with Malaysian-owned construction company YTL to relocate the arena to Filton.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"71\"\/>The new 17,000-capacity venue was subsequently approved by Bristol City Council. Construction is yet to begin, although work on a railway station intended to serve the future arena is under way.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"73\"\/>Meanwhile, the Harbour Walkway, originally designed with the Temple Meads arena in mind, is now open and serving a different purpose as part of Bristol\u2019s ongoing regeneration.<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/world\/uk\/bristol-spends-9-7-million-on-400m-harbour-walkway-planned-for-2-5-million-to-link-temple-meads-to-an-arena-now-moved-to-filton-it-instead-connects-the-station-to-bristols-500-million-campus\/articleshow\/134339873.cms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Bristol\u2019s \u00a39.7 million floating walkway was originally planned to serve a music arena. (Photo: SWNS) A floating walkway that was originally conceived to take visitors from one of Bristol\u2019s busiest railway stations to a major new music arena has finally opened, but the arena it was designed to connect to will now be built around [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":25947,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-25946","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-31"],"magazineBlocksPostFeaturedMedia":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/bristols-97-million-floating-walkway-was-originally-planned-to-serve-a-music-arena.jpg","medium":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/bristols-97-million-floating-walkway-was-originally-planned-to-serve-a-music-arena.jpg","medium_large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/bristols-97-million-floating-walkway-was-originally-planned-to-serve-a-music-arena.jpg","large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/bristols-97-million-floating-walkway-was-originally-planned-to-serve-a-music-arena.jpg","1536x1536":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/bristols-97-million-floating-walkway-was-originally-planned-to-serve-a-music-arena.jpg","2048x2048":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/bristols-97-million-floating-walkway-was-originally-planned-to-serve-a-music-arena.jpg","blogsy-small":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/bristols-97-million-floating-walkway-was-originally-planned-to-serve-a-music-arena.jpg","blogsy-small-tall":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/bristols-97-million-floating-walkway-was-originally-planned-to-serve-a-music-arena.jpg","blogsy-small-square":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/bristols-97-million-floating-walkway-was-originally-planned-to-serve-a-music-arena.jpg","blogsy-small-masonry":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/bristols-97-million-floating-walkway-was-originally-planned-to-serve-a-music-arena.jpg","blogsy-medium":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/bristols-97-million-floating-walkway-was-originally-planned-to-serve-a-music-arena.jpg","blogsy-medium-masonry":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/bristols-97-million-floating-walkway-was-originally-planned-to-serve-a-music-arena.jpg","blogsy-large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/bristols-97-million-floating-walkway-was-originally-planned-to-serve-a-music-arena.jpg","blogsy-wide":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/bristols-97-million-floating-walkway-was-originally-planned-to-serve-a-music-arena.jpg"},"magazineBlocksPostAuthor":{"name":"admin","avatar":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8709732a479614e7a8aa24d3eb1b239f30dc6d90c61464ed495001e7a469d856?s=96&d=mm&r=g"},"magazineBlocksPostCommentsNumber":"0","magazineBlocksPostExcerpt":"Bristol\u2019s \u00a39.7 million floating walkway was originally planned to serve a music arena. (Photo: SWNS) A floating walkway that was originally conceived to take visitors from one of Bristol\u2019s busiest railway stations to a major new music arena has finally opened, but the arena it was designed to connect to will now be built around [&hellip;]","magazineBlocksPostCategories":["\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36 \u0b2c\u0b3f\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36"],"magazineBlocksPostViewCount":1,"magazineBlocksPostReadTime":4,"magazine_blocks_featured_image_url":{"full":["https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/bristols-97-million-floating-walkway-was-originally-planned-to-serve-a-music-arena.jpg",400,225,false],"medium":["https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/bristols-97-million-floating-walkway-was-originally-planned-to-serve-a-music-arena.jpg",300,169,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/bristols-97-million-floating-walkway-was-originally-planned-to-serve-a-music-arena.jpg",150,84,false]},"magazine_blocks_author":{"display_name":"admin","author_link":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/author\/admin"},"magazine_blocks_comment":0,"magazine_blocks_author_image":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8709732a479614e7a8aa24d3eb1b239f30dc6d90c61464ed495001e7a469d856?s=96&d=mm&r=g","magazine_blocks_category":"<a href=\"#\" class=\"category-link category-link-31\">\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36 \u0b2c\u0b3f\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36<\/a>","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25946","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=25946"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25946\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/25947"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=25946"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=25946"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=25946"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}