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www.stokegiffordjournal.co.uk
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June 2019
News
Gipsy Patch Lane railway bridge closure set to create traffic hell
R
esidents across the Stokes are bracing themselves for weeks of severe traffic congestion resulting from the planned closure of a major commuter route through the area. Gipsy Patch Lane is set to be closed to motorised vehicles at the railway bridge in Little Stoke for four weeks from Monday 3rd June to enable BT to divert its underground cables ahead of the bridge being replaced over a 12day period spanning Easter 2020. The new, much wider, concrete bridge will accommodate four lanes of traffic (one bus lane and one general traffic lane in each direction), along with shared-use paths on both sides of the road. The surface of the highway under the bridge will be lowered by 1.7m to allow taller vehicles, including double-decker buses, to pass through safely. The June closure comes ahead of a further planned eight-month full road closure at the bridge starting in early 2020. South Gloucestershire Council (SGC), which is responsible for the Cribbs Patchway MetroBus Extension (CPME) scheme, of which the bridge replacement
Matrix display sign positioned on the approach to the bridge in late May
work forms a major part, originally said that the June closure would apply to “all highway users”. However, it was recently revealed that a route under the bridge for pedestrians and dismounted cyclists will be maintained during the closure. Signs giving notice of the upcoming June road closure and advising motorists to “seek other routes” were put out in the week commencing 20th May. To avoid confusion, SGC says it will promote just a single signed
diversion route, using Bradley Stoke Way and the A38 (see map below). However, it is widely anticipated that motorists with local knowledge and those using satnav equipment will attempt to use other diversion routes, which is likely to lead to significantly increased congestion on some smaller local roads. Local councillors have expressed concern about the potential impact of the road closure on local businesses situated on Gipsy Patch Lane
Diversion route for June 2019 Gipsy Patch Lane closure
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Road closed at railway bridge © South Gloucestershire Council,2019All rights reserved. © Crown copyright and database rights 2019 Ordnance Survey 100023410. Contains Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right 2019. Contains National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right 2019.
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Gipsy Patch Lane
The only signed route shown on the diversion map is one to the north via Bradley Stoke Way and the A38. Why isn’t there a signed diversion route to the south, e.g. via Stoke Gifford By-Pass, A4174 & A38? The council considers that the A38 and Bradley Stoke Way to be the most appropriate diversion route at this time. However other potential routes, such as the route to the south via the Stoke Gifford Transport Link, could be signed in the future during the CPME works. Will vehicular access to/from Station Road (from/to Gipsy Patch Lane) be maintained? We anticipate that vehicular access at the junction with Gipsy Patch Lane will be maintained by BT during the June closure, albeit with temporary traffic management for a period. There will need to be restrictions during the bridge works and when further details are confirmed we will publicise information in advance. Have you considered temporarily opening up bus lanes to general traffic, particularly the dedicated left turn off Bradley Stoke Way onto A38 southbound? In order to minimise congestion it is important to encourage as many people as possible to travel sustainably, including by public transport. Opening bus lanes to general traffic would result in bus and MetroBus journey times being negatively affected, therefore going against the principle of encouraging their use. In a change to the original announcement, pedestrians and cyclists will be able to pass under the bridge during the June closure. This could encourage large numbers of motorists to park on the east side of the bridge and then walk through. Are any steps being planned to address nuisance parking in residential areas? SGC has been working closely with major local employers to encourage employees to travel to work sustainably, thereby reducing reliance on private cars and the need to park nearby. In addition, increased parking enforcement patrols will be undertaken in the area during the June closure.
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Your questions answered
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