It will radically change the way drivers cross the city
Bedminster Bridge traffic (Image: Google )
Work on major changes to two of the busiest roundabouts in Bristol could begin as early as this spring, if regional transport chiefs give the go-ahead to fund the work.
The business case for two projects – to radically change both the Bedminster Bridge roundabout and the Redcliffe Way roundabout – has now been submitted by Bristol City Council.
The council wants to split the two bridges over the New Cut River Avon and make big changes to the roads and pavements in front of St Mary Redcliffe Church – including installing new bus gates.
The money will come from central Government, which has given the West of England Combined Authority the job of distributing hundreds of millions of pounds for roads and public transport. Bristol City Council has applied to the metro mayor for the funds to do the work, and a decision is expected in the next few weeks.
If metro mayor Helen Godwin gives the go-ahead for funding, work could begin as early as March or April – with disruption expected to last at least 18 months in an area stretching from outside Asda on Bedminster Parade to the Redcliffe Bascule Bridge.
Council planners first unveiled what they are proposing in 2024. The project would see what is now the Bedminster Bridge roundabout effectively turned into two different crossroads on either side of the bridge, but there would be some restrictions on where regular traffic could turn left or right approaching each junction.
The western bridge of the twin-bridge roundabout would be just for buses running two-way, while the eastern bridge would be two-way regular traffic.
Bedminster Bridge roundabout, which connects Bedminster and Redcliffe, over the New Cut River Avon(Image: Google Earth)
There would also be changes down Bedminster Parade, with the traffic lights outside Asda extended to include the junction coming out of the car park.
And there would also be big plans north of the river in Redcliffe. Bristol City Council has drawn up plans under a separate, second project, for the St Mary Redcliffe roundabout, but has submitted the business case for this together with the one for Bedminster Bridge, and would be doing the work together as one project, to minimise the length of time things will be disrupted.
At St Mary Redcliffe roundabout, the changes proposed are slightly less radical than at Bedminster Bridge.
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A bus lane would be extended all the way across the roundabout from Redcliffe Bascule Bridge to Redcliffe Way heading towards Temple Meads, and there are plans for a bus gate on Redcliff Street – the exit and entrance to the roundabout by the Portwall Tavern.
Instead drivers of regular traffic will have to access the areas of Redcliffe between there and Bristol Bridge via Phippen Street instead, and the council is planning to make that turn off from Redcliffe Way into a major junction so drivers can go in both directions, across the main road.
(Image: Bristol City Council)
The bus gate on Redcliff Street is future-proofing the road network, council chiefs say – there are plans for an unbroken bus lane for the m2 metrobus – and possibly trams in the future – which would head up Redcliff Street from St Mary Redcliffe to Bristol Bridge – and so regular traffic is being diverted to the parallel road further east.
The biggest changes to Redcliffe Way planned are for cyclists – with segregated cyclepaths around the roundabout in both directions and down Redcliff Hill towards Bedminster.