Yahoo News Two-year roadwork scheme along A38 to begin next month - here’s all you need to know
A series of roadworks to install new segregated cycle paths, improve crossings and create new bus lanes across the outskirts of Bristol is set to begin next month and take up to two years to complete. The project is split into three sets of improvements, the A38 between Almondsbury and Grovesend, Alveston Hill, and Bradley Stoke Way, and will also affect the A38 at Aztec West.
South Gloucestershire Council say that the work is needed as the population is expected to grow by 200,000 by 2038 and that the current alternatives to using a car “are not good enough” in Thornbury, Bradley Stoke and other areas near Bristol.
The project, which is estimated to cost £31.8 million, will begin from mid-February and work is expected to take place until the end of 2026. The work will be carried out in phases to minimise disruption.
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What is proposed on the A38?
The A38 from Almondsbury to Grovesend is set for a combination of bus infrastructure, junction improvements and improved walking, cycling and wheeling (use of mobility scooters, wheelchairs and pushchairs) facility works. A southbound bus lane is proposed between Woodhouse Avenue to Hortham Lane and from Over Lane to the M5 (with a small break at the electricity substation).
The first section of the bus lane, from Woodhouse Avenue, will terminate at the Hortham Lane junction, where a signal-controlled bus gate will be installed to provide priority for buses. Most of this section of bus lane will be created by widening the road, but the last 60 metres will use the current southbound left-turn lane at the junction, which will be converted to buses only.
Left turns for other traffic will be permitted with a single southbound lane for non-bus traffic. In addition, improved bus stop facilities will be installed along the A38, which will mean some stops will be relocated. These include:
The southbound bus stop south of the M4 overbridge would be relocated to the north of Hortham Lane opposite the existing northbound bus stop.
A new northbound bus stop between Rudgeway Park and Church Road would replace both the existing northbound bus stops at Rudgeway Park and Church Road.
The existing southbound bus stop south of Briarleaze junction would be relocated north of The Mason’s Arms pub.
The existing southbound bus stop south of The Street would be relocated approximately 100 metres south.
The junctions on the A38 will become slightly smaller to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists when crossing. The radius of these junctions will be reduced meaning that turns for cars will be tighter and speed will need to be reduced.
A segregated cycle track will also be installed on the western side of the road with crossings at side roads to give priority to those using the cycle path. The footway and cycle path will be separated.
Speed limits along stretches of the A38 will be reduced, and 14 new pedestrian crossings will be installed. These works do not include the Grovesend junction improvements.
Alveston Hill
Alveston Hill will benefit from a new cycle path which will open in 2026. This would connect Alveston with Thornbury and aims to establish a better route for cyclists, wheelers and pedestrians.
A new bus shelter will be installed to replace the existing shelter at the northbound stop, south of Down Road. Like on the A38, the junctions of Down Road and Old Gloucester Road will have its radius reduced in order to reduce speed.
Bradley Stoke Way
A series of improvements between Aztec West and Great Stoke Roundabout will take place starting next month. A number of roundabouts will be improved in order to reduce the speed of vehicles and make it safer for those crossing the road.
The Patchway Brook, Savages Wood, Webbs Wood and the Great Meadow roundabouts (which is also known as the Baileys Court roundabout) will see the reduction or removal of the traffic islands along the arms of the roundabout and protected cycling and walking facilities connecting each arm. There will be a series of upgraded or new crossings at these roundabouts.
Improved bus stop facilities will be installed for the T1 and 73 route bus stops. Bus stops which are a singular flag pole will benefit from new shelters. A new bus lane will be created southbound approaching the Savages Wood roundabout.
The existing shared-use cycle path will be upgraded to a two-way cycle path with segregated footway for pedestrians. The council added that the speed limit between Great Stoke Way and the Great Meadow roundabout will be raised to 40 miles per hour (currently 30mph).
