Moves to close gap in Bristol's ring road
PLANS to complete Bristol's ring road with a link across South Bristol will be put before the public next month.
A scheme is being put together to create a quicker transport link between the A370, the A38 and the existing A4174 ring road across the southern half of the city.
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The West of England Partnership (WEP), made up of the four councils in greater Bristol, is due to make a bid to the Government for funding next year.
The Department for Transport has £40 million earmarked for the project but 10 per cent of the total costs will have to come from Bristol City and North Somerset Councils, either through council tax or contributions from developers.
But before then the WEP wants to present a variety of proposals to people living in the area.
It is keen to stress that a road is not the only option, with bus rapid transit routes, cycleways and pedestrian paths also being considered.
Final details on routes have not been finalised but it is expected the road would run from the A370 at Long Ashton, through Bishopsworth to the Hartcliffe roundabout then past Stockwood and Whitchurch to join the existing ring road at the A4 at Hick's Gate.
The first two phases of the scheme – linking the A370 to the A38 and then on to the Hartcliffe Roundabout – are set to go to public consultation in November.
Construction is forecast to happen between 2012 and 2015.
The third and final phase, from Hartcliffe to Hick's Gate, will happen later.
Despite strong opposition from residents in Stockwood and Bishopsworth, transport chiefs believe the scheme is vital to continue the regeneration south Bristol.
They cite the new shopping centre at Symes Avenue in Hartcliffe and the development at Hengrove Park, which is due to be complete in the next few years, as projects in need of better transport links.
With the expansion of Bristol International Airport due by 2011 and with Bristol City hoping to build a new football stadium at Ashton Vale, major growth in traffic around the area is forecast over the next five years.
Looking further forward, the proposed new town at Yanley could also benefit from improved links.
Elfan Ap Rees, transport councillor for North Somerset Council, said: "We very much need the link, partially to act as a bypass and also for traffic going to Bristol Airport. A major city like Bristol needs a link road around each side of it and it would take pressure off some of the residential roads on the edge of the city.
"There have been lines drawn on a map but the detail still needs to be finalised and people will be able to air their views."
A Bristol City Council spokesman said: "Bristol City Council, in partnership with North Somerset Council, is investigating a number of different options for the South Bristol Link. These options include a possible new road and also major public transport improvements, such as Bus Rapid Transit.
"We stress that these are just options and we will be consulting widely with local people, businesses and stakeholders before any decision is taken on the way forward.
"This consultation is due to start in November this year.
"The link will aim to tackle congestion and improve access to public transport and businesses for local people in an area of south Bristol earmarked for growth, including new homes and jobs."
23 Comments
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by Alex, Bristol
Saturday, October 04 2008, 12:22AM
“I really hope that some proper decent cycle paths are built alongside the dual carriageway at the time this is being built...
It's about time there was some proper legislation about new builds having cycle provision.”
by Mark, Downend
Friday, October 03 2008, 7:18PM
“Just a small point as someone who lives by and uses the A4174 ring road , i think the one other thing that needs to be done is to remove the traffic lights from the roundabouts along the length of the ring road so the traffic can move freely .
The roundabouts by nature are designed to keep traffic flowing provided everybody follows the priority to the right rule.
Traffic lights just cause mini traffic jams at peak hours and frustrate drivers in the early hours when they are still in operation for no apparent reason.
also get rid of the 2 plus lane again from using the ring road before it was there to using it now it hasnt improved traffic congestion , nor do i belive that more people are car sharing because of it .
So yes by all means complete the ring road loop and ideally make a second exit to the M4 so the ring road can do what is was designed for and please get rid of the traffic lights!!
Job done!”
by Paul Mizen, Bemmy Down
Friday, October 03 2008, 6:54PM
“This has nothing to do with easing traffic congestion,its all about opening up the greenbelt to developers.You have all bought their propaganda!Without this road they cant get there mits on the land.With 30,000 new homes and double the number of cars it will take more than a ring road to cope.South Bristol will be the new Portishead.And can somebody tell me how thousands of extra cars get across the Cumberland Bason flyover every morning?Oh,and ive been in south Bristol for over 60 years(if that gives me any more cred.)”
by Cazz, Bristol
Friday, October 03 2008, 3:54PM
“The "more roads more traffic" argument is based on latent demand... how many times have you put off a casual journey because it's the rush hour or had to dismiss a great job with more money because the travel time was too long? If more roads/lanes were built they would be taken up by all the people currently putting off their journey.
If there's a huge demand for any road, then it will be filled before you know it. You need to build roads way in excess of the current demand to solve the problems, not just buckle under the current pressures.
Although encouraging major traffic away from small villages has to be good.”
by Richard, BS13
Friday, October 03 2008, 2:54PM
“I love it, that people moan about the fact that the likes of areas like Portishead finds it difficult travel in and out, and around their area. All i can say is welcome to the real world. Having moved down to Bristol in the late 80s, and opting to live in BS13, well what a nightmare. The sooner the road (transport link is built the better), South Bristol has been left to fester for over 20 years, now that the North is ¿full¿, developers/developments can at last start to come to the South Bristol area, starting with the likes of, e.g. Imperial shopping, cineworld and Morrison¿s, etc. Now even a hospital and swimming pool are planned, hurrah! Remember this ring-road was chalked up in the 1950s¿ so it¿s only say four decades late, the local Nimbys¿ need to back off and let the real South Bristolians get some part of the cake that the City Centre and North Bristol has been chomping on the years. Bring the airport expansion, bring on new Aston Gate, BRING ON THE ROAD! You other areas need to get in line and now wait! (and hope it not four decades). As for council planning integrated transport, don¿t get me started!”
by Paul, Kingsway, Bristol
Friday, October 03 2008, 2:40PM
“I have never heard of anyone buying a car just because a new road has been built and feel that arguement is a load of tosh. If this eases congestion in Brislington and keeps traffic moving, then there should be a reduction in carbon emissions.
I have lived in Bristol all my life and welcome this road - better late than never!”
by Carlos, Portishead
Friday, October 03 2008, 1:48PM
“Steven, Getting back to the original issue and not wanting to justify my reasons for choosing to live in Portishead, for I have my reasons.
I think it is interesting that N Somerset have been given the task of accommodating more houses and have tackled the issue of transport prior to the houses (unlike Portishead). The really interesting thing is the need for transport indicates that they have no intention in fostering businesses to settle near by and assume that people will simply drive to wherever they work. This is not about building a real self sufficient town, but about building a huge housing estate that requires roads to drive people in and out ever day.”
by Terry Manski, Portishead
Friday, October 03 2008, 1:42PM
“There are some fundamental traffic questions to ask - such as - we suffer a blocked M5 every Saturday during the summer - why? Simple answer - the 'changeover day' for Devon and Cornwall hotels and holiday camps is Saturday - why? because years ago people had to book their holidays in whole weeks. These days you can go on holiday any day of the week - so why do Devon hoteliers continue with this out of date changeover day? If they had different changeover days the traffic would be spread over the whole week, and hence reduce the abnormal Saturday loading. WAKE UP DEVON AND CORNWALL HOTELIERS!!!
Next question - why are there rail tracks in Portishead and no trains? answer - take the developers money, and the council tax, and screw the residents by not improving the infrastructure. Does anyone in the council's transport department do any thinking?”
by phil, bristol
Friday, October 03 2008, 1:15PM
“From Nowhere to Nowhere via roundabouts Where does the traffic go when it gets to the A370 App Rees is an of touch demigog who is set up in his ivory tower in WESTON SUPER MARE get in a local”
by Mark, Stoke Bishop
Friday, October 03 2008, 12:57PM
“I largely disagree with Chris's comment at 1307. A road does not generate traffic per se; traffic is generated by people moving from A to B, which is perfectly acceptable in a free country. Few, if any, of them are doing it for fun. I do agree, though, that clear roads could shape people's choice of transport option and route, but I am not sure why that has to necessarily be a bad thing. The role of a democratic government should be to provide the electorate with what they want, not to try to socially-engineer a different set of circumstances.
There seems to be a fundamental failure to understand the difference between 'traffic' and 'congestion'. Decent roads can shift a large volume of traffic while suffering very little congestion. In Bristol we have the polar opposite: grid-locked roads with hardly any flow.
And a 'ring road' needs to be a continuous loop to be worthy of the name!”