The strange beauty of Bristol’s underpasses

They may be covered in graffiti and a couple of them filled with stagnant water, but there is a strange kind of beauty in the ugliness of Bristol’s underpasses.

Alongside many new developments or plans to improve an area, underpasses are often mentioned. Most recently the underpass on Redcliff Hill has been earmarked for removal.

The whitewashed subways leading in and out of the Bearpit are an example of what can be done if action is taken.

So these remaining underpasses, these blighted dreams of 1960s town planners, are now places many people choose to avoid. Their graffiti-strewn glory might not be around for much longer.

Eastville interchange to underneath the M32

Of all the underpasses I visited as part of this feature, this one was the sketchiest. Despite still being open, it serves very little of its original purpose – whatever that was meant to be. It leads from the centre of the Eastville interchange towards an enormous area underneath the M32 where a number of vehicle-dwellers have made a semi-permanent home.

The other exits from Eastville interchange

A familiar sight on a tour of Bristol’s underpasses is the attempt to brighten up a few of the exits with painting and the name of the location you are heading towards. It’s certainly ambitious, with a swan in the Eastville interchange still pointing the way towards Muller Road.

New Stadium Road

The clue is in the name here, with this underpass on New Stadium Road in Eastville built extra wide in order to accommodate the rush of fans who once walked through it when Bristol Rovers once played at Eastville Stadium, now where Ikea is located.

Temple Way

As the area changes literally around it – overlooked by the new Castle Park View tower, BT’s new office building and the Soapworks development – the underpass beneath Temple Way stands resolutely unchanged.

Redcliff Hill

Redcliff Hill is one of those underpasses that looked great on the city planners’ maps but did not work so well in reality, with a pedestrian crossing later installed on the road relegating it even further to history. It still has a sign to the General Hospital, which closed almost a decade ago.

Underneath the M32 in Stoke Park

Dividing neighbourhoods in two, the M32 has a lot to answer for. Here in Stoke Park, it is parkland that it divides.

Lawrence Hill roundabout

Of all the underpasses in Bristol, those leading from the Lawrence Hill roundabout are among the most useful and well-used but are prone to flooding. The centre of the roundabout is also used as a much-needed green space by local residents, especially during lockdown.

Cumberland Basin

As the Cumberland Basin flyover takes cars above, this underpass was meant to take pedestrians below. It has been flooded for well over a year and it is missed by absolutely nobody as its job can be just as safely done by crossing the road at ground level.

Dalby Avenue

Dalby Avenue is another underpass that is closed, flooded and one to hold your nose if nearby. It seems to be biding its time before the area around it is developed.

Junction 3

The work of the M32 planners again, who cruelly separated Easton, St Paul’s and St Werburgh’s. Every so often the underpasses here are spruced up but they soon return to their natural state.

All photos by Martin Booth

Read more: ‘Walking and cycling improvements have again been ignored in favour of cars’