There will be lane closures, reduced speed limits and temporary walkways at all times along the road
Work to improve pavements on the A4 Portway in Bristol is due to start on June 16 for nine months(Image: Bristol City Council)
Drivers and pedestrians are being warned of nine months of roadworks to improve pavements on a major transport route in Bristol.
Work will get underway from Monday, June 16, and there will be lane closures, reduced speed limits and temporary walkways at all times along the A4 Portway.
It is the second phase of a project to cut queues on the road and improve the reliability of buses. The first phase involved essential maintenance such as drainage works.
This part of the work will include widening and resurfacing pavements, re-aligning kerbs and improvements to street lighting. Some of the pavements along the route are shared by pedestrians and cyclists.
Access for pedestrians and cyclists and all road users will be maintained throughout, Bristol City Council has said.
Phase three of the project, if approved, would include sections of 24-hour bus lanes, reducing some speed limits, and improving junctions along the route. A 21-day statutory consultation on the third phase starts from June 27.
If the plans for phase three are approved, construction work is expected to start early in 2026, which also includes resurfacing the A4 Portway. These works would take up to 14 months.
Councillor Ed Plowden, chair of the transport and connectivity committee at Bristol City Council, said: “It’s fantastic that after all of the planning, public engagement and refining of the plans, work is starting to make it easier and safer to walk, wheel and cycle along the Portway.
“This initial work is part of a multi-million project that will see this main route between north and south Bristol upgraded so it works better for all road users, including people travelling by bus.
“It complements our ongoing work to remodel the entrance to Portway Park & Ride, to allow access to buses travelling from northwest of the city, which is progressing well and on schedule to be completed towards the end of this year.
“Moving to a network that prioritises sustainable transport, such as buses and cycling, has many benefits for us as a city, including less congestion, cleaner air, a boost to the local economy, as well as improving health outcomes for those who travel more actively.
“However, for people to change the way they travel, we need a more reliable bus service that doesn’t get caught up in traffic, along with safer and more attractive routes for people to walk and cycle along. This project is just one of the ways we’re investing in our transport network to help make this a reality.”
The A4 Portway transport corridor project is being funded by the UK Government as part of the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement, administered by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority.
Work at Portway Park & Ride includes widening and reconfiguring the bus junction, adding more wayfinding, installing a pedestrian crossing next to the bus junction, and resurfacing the area. It is part of a separate project that is also being funded by the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement