Transport planners are consulting on changes to make cycling and getting the bus easier from a commuter town north of Bristol. New bus lanes and cycle lanes will be built between Thornbury and Bradley Stoke in a project aimed to cut car traffic, congestion and pollution.
South Gloucestershire Council is asking the public to help shape their major plans for the A38 Gloucester Road and Bradley Stoke Way, as part of a huge project which is expected to be finished in 2026. Council bosses said they wanted to encourage drivers out of their cars.
The project includes building a new two-way cycle track between Almondsbury and Alveston along the A38, and a new bus lane going south approaching Hortham Lane. Bus stops and pavements on the A38 will also be improved, while the speed limit will be reduced between Almondsbury and Rudgeway.
Read more: Work on £4.6m project to upgrade Thornbury High Street due to start this month
On Bradley Stoke Way, a new two-way cycle track and separate pavement will be built between Aztec West and Great Stoke roundabout, and a bus lane going south approaching Savages Wood roundabout. Crossings to and from the cycle track will also be upgraded.
A drop-session will be held in Jubilee Hall in Alveston on Wednesday, March 8, from 4pm to 6pm, for residents to meet the project team. A second public consultation on the changes will be launched this summer. Construction is due to start in 2024 and take about two years to complete.
Conservative Councillor Steve Meade, cabinet member for transport, said: “It’s really important we get the views of people who live, work or travel through the area as they will influence the steps we take to encourage sustainable travel.
“We are preparing for the local impact of climate change and an important part of our response is to provide improvements for walking, cycling, wheeling and public transport. We are working hard to help set up sustainable alternatives to encourage more people to get out of their motorised vehicles more often.
“We are committed to tackling these issues and have already invested a total of £174 million in highway improvements over the last four years to reduce congestion and emissions, improve cycling and pedestrian routes, facilitate faster bus journeys and future-proof our road network.”
The consultation is open until midnight on Sunday, March 19. People wishing to find out more information can visit www.southglos.gov.uk/a38-phase1 or by emailing transportservices@southglos.gov.uk.
The money for the project is coming from the West of England Combined Authority, through a £540-million pot of money the government gave to the combined authority known as the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement Fund.
Dan Norris, West of England metro mayor, said: “Please do come forward with your views on these early-stage ideas for bus lanes, pedestrian crossings, cycling facilities, and more so they can be developed, changed and improved.
“It needs to be as easy as possible for residents to be able to hop on a bus or walk and cycle their way around Thornbury, Bradley Stoke, and across our brilliant West of England region. I hope measures like these will help cut traffic jams and enable us to make progress towards our really ambitious net-zero targets locally.”
A separate project will build a new cycle path linking the A38 at Alveston to Thornbury town centre. Construction of the Alveston Hill Cycleway is due to begin in spring next year.
