June 2017
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11
News
MetroBus roadworks extended (again) to August
M
etroBus construction work will still be going on within Bradley Stoke as late as August 2017, the Journal can reveal. The news follows a decision by MetroBus contractors Alun Griffiths to “re-sequence” its programme of work at the southern end of Bradley Stoke Way, where a new bus lane is being constructed on the southbound approach to Great Stoke Roundabout. At the start of the project in September 2015, Griffiths said they planned to finish all MetroBus work in the town by Christmas 2016, beating the advertised completion date by a few months, but the discovery of a series of uncharted gas and water mains at the northern end of Bradley Stoke Way (BSW) added delays, with the consequence that the Woodlands Lane junction remained fully or partially closed
for 76 weeks instead of the 18 weeks originally estimated. In December 2016, South Gloucestershire Council gave a projected date of 11th July 2017 for the completion of work near Great Stoke Roundabout, but at a public meeting in January 2017 Griffiths said they were aiming to complete it by the end of May. Despite work on the stretch starting on schedule at the end of February and favourable weather conditions during April, Griffiths have recently announced that the work will now extend into “the school summer holiday period”. Asked to expand on the statement in their monthly progress report (pages 16 & 17), a Griffiths spokesperson said: “There is a large drainage excavation on the north east corner of Great Stoke Roundabout and design changes may be required where the [underground] services cross it.
This will make the excavation extremely difficult. Managing the safety of pedestrians around this area is our primary concern, as public safety and the safety of our workforce is paramount. Therefore, it has been decided to extend the existing traffic management (which is working well) into August, so that this work can be completed with the least disruption and safely.” In other news, MetroBus work on the A38 at Aztec West will now run into June and there has been slippage on the completion date for the Stoke Gifford Transport Link (SGTL, a.k.a. Stoke Gifford By-Pass). The Griffiths spokesperson added: “Any delays for the SGTL are out of our control. As mentioned in our report, we are awaiting hand over of the Ham Brook bridge by a third party contractor. We cannot complete the roadway until this is done.”
Notable dates May June
Work complete at Aztec West
June
Announcement of MetroBus operators
June August
Work complete on Bradley Stoke Way
August
Unveiling of brand, logos, buses, iPoints etc.
August
iPoint installation begins
September Autumn
Stoke Gifford Transport Link opens
October
Stoke Lane work completes
Autumn
MetroBus services start
Information supplied by MetroBus. All dates are approximate. Red text: Changes since May magazine
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