Problems with the drains could finally get fixed in the next few years
A “particularly vicious” puddle is forcing pedestrians to wait for a gap in traffic and then sprint past to avoid getting splashed. The notorious puddle on the Bath Road bridges has been tormenting passers-by for many years but repairs to the drains could soon finally be made.
Thousands of people walk across the bridge every day to get from South Bristol to Temple Meads and the city centre. As the weather gets wetter, the puddle has made its comeback, making people stop and check if a car is coming, and then run to the safety of the other side.
The wider area around Temple Meads will form a multi-million pound regeneration scheme over the next few years, with huge upgrades to infrastructure around the city’s main train station. Yet Bristol City Council appears unable to prevent this puddle from reappearing whenever it rains.
Similar puddles torment pedestrians elsewhere across Bristol, like on St John’s Lane for example, and many underpasses too. Leading councillors faced questions about the infamous puddle on the Bath Road, during a member forum meeting on November 4.
Liberal Democrat Councillor Sarah Classick said: “As the weather has turned worse over the last month or two and we’re seeing more rainfall, it’s getting increasingly difficult for pedestrians to avoid being splashed by puddles at the side of the road.
“Twice one night on my way out and back, myself and several pedestrians had to complete a fast sprint on the Bath Bridge roundabout to get past a particularly vicious puddle during a short gap in the traffic. What is being done to improve our roads so that pedestrians can move around in bad weather without ending up too wet and muddy?”
The puddle often appears during wet weather(Image: Alex Seabrook)
The Temple Quarter regeneration has benefited from £95 million of government support, and will include 10,000 new homes, space for 22,000 new jobs, new entrances to the station and a new university campus. A southern entrance to the station will be built just south of the puddle, with work starting next summer and lasting two years. This could include repairing the drains.
In a written response, Green Cllr Ed Plowden, chair of the transport policy committee, said: “Highway drains on our main roads are cleansed on an annual cyclical basis and tested to ensure that they are freely running. The gullies on the Bath Bridge roundabout have been scheduled to be cleansed next week at night to avoid causing traffic congestion.
“Given that I have experienced this for many years, I have asked for the service to investigate what can be done to proactively address this problem. If significant engineering is needed I have asked whether we can undertake this work alongside, or as part of the roadworks that will be required for the Temple Meads Southern Gateway.”
Green councillors often talk about “modal shift” — trying to get more people to walk and cycle and fewer people driving, to reduce congestion and pollution. Many controversial transport changes aim to make walking and cycling more attractive. But if pedestrians can’t avoid getting drenched without sprinting past a puddle, driving might still be the favoured option for many.