Badminton Road is a key route that connects South Gloucestershire and Bristol. The road stretches from Yate to Downend and is a key link from South Gloucestershire into Bristol. And in efforts by the council to improve the route, Signiant work is being done that significantly impacts those who live on the effected route.
For Downend locals, the work has meant that the not only do the roadworks obstruct the main road but also the four way traffic lights at the highstreets main junction, which is one of the areas busiest junctions as it leads off of the high street onto key roads such as Cleve Hill.
A letter to residents reads: "I am writing to advise you about essential roadworks that are to be carried out at Badminton Road, Downend (between No 107 the junction of Westbourne Road.) From March 7 2022, the road will be subject to major resurfacing works.
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"The works will involve the planning off of the existing surface of the carriageway and the laying of a new surface. The work will start at 8.00pm and remain in place until approximately 6.00pm. These works will create a significant amount of noise.
"For the duration of the works, the road will be closed and all traffic will be diverted around the area whilst the closures are in place. We will make every effort to ensure that access to properties and amenities fronting the site and whose only access is from the closed road, is kept available and the disruption to local residents is kept to a minimum.
"However, there may be periods of time when access to properties by vehicle will be unachievable, and for this, we apologise. Please note that adverse weather conditions or plant/delivery problems may affect these times and dates." and this has been confirmed to be the case by local residents.
Speaking with Bristol Live, a local parent who lives in the affected area complained that she has twice been blocked in her driveway and unable to drop and collect her children from school. "It would be nice if the works considered the daily habits of locals, or at least consulted us residents before they planned to block us in to give us a heads up."
"Downend is such a lovely area and it's the perfect place to be as a family with young children so I just keep reminding myself that this inconvenience is only temporary".
Locals shared that the works also take place in the day and as well as obstructions such as cones and barriers in the road, the workers trucks also block their driveways - preventing access to the road.
Another resident, Harley, said: "the temporary traffic lights make the roads so dangerous, when we drive out onto the road there is a chance that a car could come around the corner without us knowing as the view is obstructed. I almost witnessed an accident just the other day".
A teenager who attends the local school also shared their concerns with Bristol Live, saying: "It's almost impossible to cross the road it's so busy. The traffic lights make it really scary, I was late to school one morning because I was waiting almost five minutes for the temporary traffic lights to let pedestrians cross. In the end I had to go home and ask my sister to come and help me cross at another part of the road. She got one of the workmen to help me out."
The roadworks are expected to end on March 23 and are part of a £174 million investment that South Gloucestershire Council say aim to improve their network over a four-year period.
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