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June 2021
News
£30m A4174 improvements scheme unveiled
C
ommuters using the A4174 Ring Road around north-east Bristol could face three years of traffic misery after proposals for a £30m scheme of road-widening and ‘throughabouts’ were unveiled. South Gloucestershire Council has launched a public consultation on the plans, which it says are aimed at tackling congestion on the strategic route and deterring motorists from using roads through adjoining residential areas as ‘rat runs’. Changes are being proposed to five major roundabouts along the route between Lyde Green and Hanham, including converting three of them to “throughabouts” where new ‘straight on’ traffic lanes go through the centre of the roundabout (see image). The roundabouts included in the proposed project are Lyde Green, The Rosary (also known as Emersons Green), Siston Hill, Deanery Road and Kingsfield. The plans aim to improve the capacity of these roundabouts by better utilising available space on the approach to junctions, changing the type of some of the junctions, and expanding traffic signal control to locations that currently have no traffic lights. The council says it also intends to improve connections for active travel modes (such as walking and cycling) and other non-road users where possible, as well as helping the flow of public transport through improved junction performance.
Bird’s eye visualisation of the alterations proposed at the Deanery Road Roundabout, showing new ‘straight on’ lanes
The plans also seek to improve access to the surrounding area to help open up business opportunities, as well as enhancing traffic safety and bettering the network’s resilience and journey time reliability. A council spokesperson said: “The results of this consultation will support the development of a full business case. This will be submitted to government for funding to deliver the scheme and the cost is estimated to be around £30 million.” If these plans are progressed and the funding approved, a
construction management plan will be prepared to minimise the impact of the works on local people, road users, businesses and the environment.” According to a ‘frequently asked questions’ document published as part of the consultation, if funding is approved, construction would start in 2022 and take a minimum of three years to complete. To achieve this, the council plans to work on multiple junctions at the same time “in a phased manner to ensure that construction can be completed as quickly as possible and disrup-
tion kept to a minimum.” More information about the proposals can be found at www. southglos.gov.uk/consultation where it is also possible to provide feedback through an online questionnaire. Alternatively, you can request a printed copy of the consultation materials by emailing transportservices@southglos. gov.uk or calling 01454 868000. Two face-to-face consultation events are also planned, in Emersons Green and Warmley. The public consultation runs until 16th August 2021.
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