M32 underpass becomes ‘impassable’ as people 'can't access their home' amid flooding

Bristol City Council has said fixing flooding issues at pedestrian underpasses around the M32 roundabout are ‘quite complex’. It comes as one of the underpasses at the roundabout at junction 3 of the M32 at St Pauls became ‘impassable’ again last week due to flooding.

Pictures shared on social media last week showed part of the underpass at the roundabout between Easton Way and Lower Ashley Road covered with water. The post on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, April 3 said: “Despite my repeatedly logging blocked drains in this tunnel with you, this whole tunnel is now flooded and impassable! When are you finally going to unblock the drains here?”

The user then shared more pictures of the flooding the following day. The post said: “First started reporting this same issue to you back in November 2022, it’s now April 2024 and it’s still reoccurring there whenever it rains. Mud has just been left to block/cover the gutters there since at least 2022 which is what’s causing the flooding problems.”

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Another user also commented: “This needs to be fixed ASAP as we cannot get through to our house.” The council replied to the original tweet stating that the job was awaiting contractor availability and that the ‘issues at the underpass are quite complex in nature’. The problem has also been reported on Fix My Street, the council’s service for reporting issues in the local area.

Issues with pedestrian underpass flooding have been an issue in the local area for more than a decade. Just half-a-mile down the road from the M32 junction is Lawrence Hill roundabout, which has seen its underpasses repeatedly been hit by floods for over a decade.

With even a little bit of rain, the underpasses flood leaving pedestrians to cross over the busy roundabout, despite ongoing promises to resolve the flooding issues. At one point last year, flooding got so bad the roundabout was renamed on Google Maps to the “Lawrence Hill Roundabout and Lido”.

The problem has gone on for at least 10 years. Back in 2012, the first documented tweet complaining to the council about the flooded underpass was posted on Twitter, and since then, people walking to work have regularly braved the six-inch deep mud and water that collects following each storm.

There have also been recent complaints about the Lawrence Hill Roundabout on Fix My Street. One from March 28 said: “Two of the Lawrence Hill Roundabout underpasses are continually flooded due to drainage problems. This has been an issue since I first arrived in Bristol six months ago. This problem restricts the use of the underpasses for women with buggies and the elderly.”

Another person added: “It’s no surprise this is flooded again. I have lived in the area since I was one year old. I am now 39. At around seven to eight years old, I noticed it would flood when playing in the area, and nearly every rainfall into my adult years today. So, consider this issue ongoing for at least 30 years with no fix. It has been reported numerous times, and there's always a promise of clearance or drain inspection.... but yet the years go on and nothing changes, and the flooding continues.

Bristol City Council replied that the “issue is currently under investigation. We'll provide updates on the outcome as soon as we can.”

When the Lawrence Hill underpass flooded in January 2023, a spokesperson for the council said: “We are aware of this flooding issue and have used a camera to survey the drainage pipework at Lawrence Hill subway. It showed that tree roots have infiltrated the pipework in places.”

“Work is due to take place on January 30 and 31, with a root cutter deployed to restore capacity to the pipework. We intend to sleeve the pipe to prevent further infiltration by tree roots, and in the longer-term switch from underpasses to at-level crossings.”

A spokesperson from Bristol City Council said: “Repairs have recently been completed at the Lawrence Hill Roundabout subways, with further improvements planned. Work to pump excess water from one of the subway tunnels at the Ashley Road/Newfoundland Way Roundabout tunnels is underway to ensure it remains accessible to the public. Due to the grass bank at Ashley Road/Newfoundland Way Roundabout underpass, there can be a continuous run-off of water into the tunnel for a short period of time following heavy rainfall. We will continue to monitor access to all areas as a priority.”