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March/April 2022
News
Two-way traffic to return along full length of Gipsy Patch Lane in late April, says council But ahead of this, a two-week full closure of the road east of the bridge is needed to carry out resurfacing work
T
wo-way traffic is set to return along the full length of Gipsy Patch Lane for the first time in more than two years. The road linking Little Stoke with the A38 has been subject to full closures and traffic management restrictions since June 2019, to allow the replacement of a narrow Victorian-era railway bridge and road widening works to create space for new bus lanes. The work has included improvements to pedestrian and cycling facilities and is part of the Cribbs Patchway MetroBus Extension (CPME) scheme, which will help to reduce congestion and improve journey times for all road users. South Gloucestershire Council, which has overall control of the project, says the CPME scheme will provide a new quick, reliable public transport system between Bristol Parkway Station and the Mall at Cribbs Causeway and offer a realistic alternative to travelling by car. The CPME scheme is funded by the West of England Combined Authority and by the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership through the Local Growth Fund. When Gipsy Patch Lane was closed at the railway bridge on
The road was reopened one-way only (westbound) in September 2021
5th March 2020, it was estimated that the full closure would last for eight months. However, work on the CPME scheme has been delayed due to several issues, including the Covid-19 pandemic, the new railway bridge getting stuck in soft ground as it was being moved into position, a redesign of the drainage system under the bridge, and delays in the delivery of drainage pumps. Passage under the bridge has been possible for pedestrians and cyclists since December 2020. Some relief for motorists came in September 2021 when the road under the bridge was reopened one-way (westbound only) – 10 months later than originally planned.
The pumps for the pumping chamber that is buried deep in the road underneath the bridge have only recently been installed following delivery from the manufacturer. Final commissioning of the drainage system was due to take place in mid-March, allowing removal of the temporary pumps and dismantling of the Alun Griffiths compound underneath the bridge.
Full reopening plan
To enable Gipsy Patch Lane to be reopened to two-way traffic, resurfacing work will need to take place over the Easter period. From 8pm on Friday 8th April until 6am on Monday 25th April, Gipsy Patch Lane will be closed
to all traffic between its junction with Little Stoke Lane and the entrance to Pegasus Park. During the resurfacing work all side road junctions along Gipsy Patch Lane that fall within the closure will also need to be closed to traffic. This includes the junctions for Station Road, Gifford Crescent, the service roads, Smithcourt Drive and Bush Avenue. Pedestrians and cyclists will still be able to use the shared use path along Gipsy Patch Lane and access side junctions. There will be signed diversion routes in place throughout the closure. Businesses at Station Road, Gifford Crescent, Pegasus Park and Stokers public house will remain open for business as usual and will need to be accessed via signed diversions. Gipsy Patch Lane will reopen to two-way traffic from 6am on Monday 25th April. All side road junctions will also reopen to traffic from this date. Road widening work will continue to be carried out on Gipsy Patch Lane, west of the railway bridge (Rolls-Royce side), and to enable this work narrow lanes will be in place along this stretch of the carriageway. The main construction work for the CPME scheme is due
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