Bristol City Council completes preliminary works for the Bedminster Bridges regeneration project and prepares a full business case to secure £13m infrastructure funding for major South Bristol transport improvements
Bedminster Bridge roundabout, which connects Bedminster and Redcliffe, over the New Cut River Avon(Image: Google Earth)
Bristol Live readers have been discussing the news that plans to revamp the Bedminster Bridges are moving a step closer, with Bristol City Council completing early works in March, including the removal of 15 trees along both sides of the river.
The council is now preparing a full business case to secure funding for the scheme, which is expected to cost at least £13m. If approved by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, the project would bring major changes to one of South Bristol’s busiest junctions, with a focus on improving bus travel.
Councillor Ed Plowden said work could begin in late autumn if funding is secured, following recent preparatory work funded through the government’s transport settlement.
The project had originally been due to start in spring but was delayed due to its complexity. Under the plans, Bedminster Old Bridge would be used by buses and taxis only, while Bedminster New Bridge would carry general traffic in both directions, with the aim of speeding up bus journeys. The scheme also includes new cycle lanes, better pedestrian crossings, wider pavements and around 50 new trees.
It forms part of a wider programme of city centre improvements funded through a £540m government package, with work also planned in areas such as Broadmead, Redcliffe Way, Temple Way and Bond Street.
All projects funded through the scheme must be completed by March 2029, though the Bedminster Bridges plans still depend on final approval from WECA.
Commenter Davewy007 says : “Doesn’t feel like a very green move in an area already under a CAZ. The trees were helping absorb CO2, so getting rid of them raises questions. Hard to see how this lines up with calling it a green approach. And why such a heavy focus on bus and cycle lanes? Buses still struggle to run reliably, and a lot of money has gone into cycling infrastructure while roads need maintaining. Changing the layout hasn’t really worked in the city centre before either. Feels like a lot of this could end up being undone after the next local elections, which just means even more money spent going back the other way.”
Ron Y agrees: “I see Bristol is harming its undeserved reputation as a green city by axing trees at the beginning of bird nesting season. Again.”
Altreality adds: “I just don’t understand the point of consultations anymore. The council asks for views, people say they don’t want something, and it still goes ahead. It also feels like the Green Party are going against what people expect from them. I’ve never seen so many trees removed under one administration. They’ve definitely lost my vote.”
Mark W thinks: “Traffic should move more smoothly once it’s finished. Buses will have their own lane, cyclists and scooters will have theirs, and other traffic will use the other bridge. That said, it only really works if cyclists stick to their lanes, which hasn’t always been the case in the city centre.”
Suzanne A asks: “Why? What is wrong with how it is? It works! What’s the saying…’if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’!? Try fixing potholes instead and sort out the traffic light sequences. Accept we are a city and allow traffic to flow!”
Domenico H agrees: “The irony of the Greens cutting down loads of trees. This project is utter madness, the roundabout works fine, now there will be gridlock for several months if not years coming from and to south Bristol.”
Jem W writes: “Bristol Live was only just reporting how bad the traffic is, and now we’re starting another set of roadworks that’ll make it even worse. It would be better if the council just said it straight, that they’re making driving harder because they want people to use other ways to get around.”
James R replies: “Or the fact that the population here has doubled in the last 20 years and car ownership has become more commonplace and we’re now swamped? The world’s population has tripled over the past 70 years, but space and resources haven’t kept up. We’re pushing beyond what the planet can handle and, on a smaller scale, what our roads can cope with too.”
Jem W retorts: “Exactly, and this is why roads shouldn’t be closed, you need to ease and open roads to help the increased traffic not close them off.”
Edd S adds: “And more of just cutting South Bristol off from the rest. Making it even harder for the people of South Bristol to reach the motorway network.”
Do you think these changes will improve travel in the area, or just make congestion worse for drivers? Have your say in our comments section.