It’s been going on for over two years
The works have been going on for over two years, causing large amounts of disruption(Image: Google Maps)
Roadworks which have plagued the junction between Hengrove Way and Airport Road in South Bristol will go on until at least November, according to Bristol City Council. The £6.9m project to transform part of the A4174 Ring Road began in July 2023, and was originally slated to end in April this year.
The end date was later pushed to August, and then October. Now, a council spokesperson has said they “anticipate” work will finish in November.
The further delay is due to “a number of issues with utilities works and the number of diversions required which must be complete before the whole project can be finalised,” according to the council.
The spokesperson did not give a guaranteed end date for the works, which involve a major remodelling of the two traffic signal junctions on A4174 to improve capacity for vehicular traffic and to provide improved facilities for cyclists and pedestrians. The project includes maintenance and resurfacing of some existing carriageways and installation of new drainage.
Join Bristol Live’s money WhatsApp group for top tips and advice
Bristol Live has contacted BCC to clarify what issues ETM, which is is carrying out the work on behalf of the council, identified with utilities works and why these issues were not identified earlier.
The council has previously not responded to multiple requests for confirmation about the end date of the works.
There have been multiple disruptions to motorists during the works, including traffic queues and delays, occasional road and lane closures and turns being closed onto and off the ring road to and from Creswicke Road and Bamfield.
The frustrations of motorists and local residents have been compounded by an apparent lack of work taking place on the site.
Nicola, writing on Facebook, summed up the anger of a huge number of people commenting on Bristol Live’s recent update about the delayed works.
“This strip of road is an absolute shambles now,” she said. “Can’t turn right, can’t turn left etc it’s a mess.”
“Lucky if there are ever 2 workers on site and if they were there 3 days a week was the max working week. The junction has not been touched since it all started 2 years ago and now they’ve decided to make a start in June 2025 so now they want an extension.”
The Hengrove saga is threatening to outdo even the Malago Road project, further north in Bedminster. Roadworks in that area lasted from January 2022 until August 2024, becoming one of the longest-running projects in modern Bristolian memory.