Plans for new Bristol bus route

A disused railway line in South Bristol is being targeted as a possible route for a high-speed bus link.

The track runs from Brislington to Arnos Vale, from the Tesco roundabout at Callington Road up to the Sainsbury's at St Philips Causeway.

Plans have been in the pipeline for years to use the mile-long line in a bid to ease congestion heading to and from the city centre.

Now the West of England Partnership, which governs transport improvements in all four councils in the former Avon area, is working to bring the scheme to fruition.

It hopes to submit a bid to the Government for funding for the plan by 2010, with construction possibly starting by 2013.

Proposals are at very early stages as yet, although five options, including road, bus rapid transit and cyclepaths and a pedestrian route, are currently being tested and assessed.

These options could go out to public consultation next year.

The A4 Bath Road through Brislington suffers from heavy congestion, as a result of traffic on the A4 merging with south Bristol traffic using the A4174 Airport Road and Callington Road.

Julia Dean, spokeswoman for the West of England Partnership, said: "This link will tackle congestion, reducing traffic queues and delays in the area, help improve air quality and improve journey times along the A4 for buses and cars.

"It should also improve road safety, help us get to work and school more efficiently and provide an improved cycle route to the city centre.

"We are currently investigating possible options including public transport, a road, a cycle route and improvements to nearby junctions.

"We need to assess the engineering options, the environmental and other impacts before we know what is feasible. We will then be seeking views on our proposals."

Plans are yet to be finalised for the route but a rough draft has been drawn up, shown on our map here.

It would see the route starting at the roundabout south of Tesco, then running alongside the superstore before travelling past the allotments and crossing the A4 under the bridge at the end of Kensington Park Road.

It would then run parallel to Repton Road, across Sandy Park Road and past the bus depot before heading over Bloomfield Road and joining up with St Philip's Causeway at the roundabout next to the Sainsbury's car park.