Have your say on South Bristol road link

Exhibitions are due to be held in Bristol and North Somerset so people can have their say on the proposed £47m South Bristol Link.

More than 6,000 postcards have gone out to residents in both areas advertising the three exhibitions.

The first is set to take place on Monday at the Withywood Centre, Queen's Road; the second on Tuesday at Long Ashton Community Centre, Keedwell Hill; and the third on Wednesday at Ashton Vale Youth Club, Silbury Road.

All are due to take place between 1pm and 8pm.

The link would be a combination of rapid transit with a new single-carriageway road, together with cycle and pedestrian access.

The link is expected to provide one of the keys to regenerating south Bristol which has suffered from lack of investment because of landlock for decades.

It will provide easier access to Bristol International Airport, relieve congestion in Barrow Gurney and help football fans reach the proposed new stadium at Ashton Vale if it wins planning permission.

The West of England Partnership – which includes Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol City, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire councils – aims to submit the major scheme business case to the Department for Transport for assessment in spring 2010 and hopes to gain full funding approval in 2013.

Subject to detailed plans, construction would start in 2014-15 with completion in 2016-17.

The South Bristol Link is one of the major transport schemes in the West of England that has been prioritised by the South West region for funding.

Others include the Greater Bristol Bus Network, the Bath Package, the Weston Package, the Ashton Vale-Temple Meads rapid transit route and the North Fringe to Hengrove Package.

The areas to receive postcards are Barrow Gurney, Bedminster; Bishopsworth; Dundry; Filwood; Hartcliffe; Hengrove; Long Ashton and Whitchurch Park wards.

The consultation runs from Monday until New Year's Eve.