Disruption is expected on the major commuter route near the M5
The underside of the A38 flyover at Filton(Image: Google Maps)
Part of a busy route linking north Bristol with the M5 will soon be completely closed for several weeks. The A38 Gloucester Road North flyover in Filton will close from August 4 until the end of the month, at its junction with Gypsy Patch Lane.
During the 24/7 closure, the slip lanes and roads under the flyover will provide alternative routes around the closure.
The diversion will direct traffic to an already busy junction beneath the flyover, near major employers such as Rolls Royce and the Royal Mail. With many commuters using this route already, drivers are being warned that delays are likely.
However South Gloucestershire Council said the closure, like many other roadworks in the area, had been timed to take place during summer to try to minimise disruption.
“This phase of the work has been timed to happen during the quietest time of the year – during the school summer holidays but some delays are expected,” the council wrote in a post on Facebook.
As well as being a busy commuter route, the flyover is part of the main road that leads up to the M5 Almondsbury Interchange. The diversion means coming off at the slip road and passing beneath the flyover to re-join it just ahead of the closure – a route that does not add much to the journey by distance, but does involve crossing a busy junction controlled by traffic lights.
The flyover will be closed at night and during the day for the duration of the works. The closure will allow maintenance work to be undertaken to replace the bridge’s expansion joints.
The flyover closure shown as a red dotted line, with the diversion route shown in blue(Image: One.Network)
The works are set to cause further summer travel disruption in the Filton area, after the junction between the A4174 ring road and Coldharbour Lane closed on July 21 for roadworks expected to take six weeks.
Works have been ongoing at the A38 flyover since May to modernise the bridge, which was constructed in 1978. Inaction would have led to increased levels of disruption, the council said.
“Whilst it has been inspected and regularly maintained during its lifetime, after nearly 50 years it now needs significant work to make sure it can remain in use without permanent weight restrictions, lane closures or carriageway closures,” a council spokesperson said.
The August closure will be the first time the flyover has been completely closed during the scheme. While the flyover is scheduled to partially reopen to traffic at the end of August, overall improvement works are scheduled to last until December.
As with any outdoor works impacted by weather, the timeframe is subject to change, meaning disruption to motorists could continue into the new year.