The project is now expected to be completed by ‘spring’
One of the main aims of the project is to prevent flooding at the bottom of Whiteladies Road(Image: )
A project to resolve drainage issues on a major Bristol road has been delayed due to… drainage issues.
Work started in July to stop water pooling at the southern end of Whiteladies Road and to install new bike lanes and resurface the pavement on each side of the road. A southbound section of the road was closed for about five months as a result.
While work has mostly been completed on the west side of the road, the estimated completion date for the rest of the project—which focuses mainly on the east side of the road—has been delayed until spring because site teams had to pause construction in order to investigate underground drainage issues.
Work is now back under way but as a result, the road has closed once more to northbound traffic between its junctions with Tyndalls Park Road/St Pauls Road and Queens Road.
A diversion is in place while the project continues(Image: )
Councillor Ed Plowden, Chair of the Transport and Connectivity Committee, said: “Whiteladies Road has struggled with localised flooding for years and the mature trees, that line the eastern side of the street, have caused problems for pedestrians as their roots have made the narrow pavement surface uneven.
“I am pleased that work has restarted as we need to make Whiteladies Road more accessible for pedestrians, safer for cyclists, while retaining road space for vehicles and without losing any of the trees.
“Unfortunately, the need to resolve the drainage issues has added extra time to the project, which is now on course to be completed early in the spring.
“Thank you to everyone, especially residents and businesses along the route, for bearing with us while we work to improve Whiteladies Road for all.”
Remaining work on the eastern side of the road includes adding a separated cycle path and repaving the pavement and increasing its height.
A diversion for drivers is in place via Queens Road, St Pauls Road and left on to Whiteladies Road. Bus services along the route, including the 1, 2, 2a, 3, 4, 71, T7, U1, U1N, and Y6, will also be affected.
There will need to be an overnight road closure towards the end of the project for road resurfacing to take place.
Work is expected to be completed in spring 2026.