How can we improve one of Bristol’s most congested roads?

Anyone who has walked or ridden down the A4 at rush hour will be all too aware of the challenges on one of Bristol’s most congested roads.

Now residents and commuters are being asked to give their views on how to improve journeys on foot, bike or by bus along the corridor between the city centre and Bath, as part of a major project led by The West of England Combined Authority (WECA).

But campaigners fear a “once in a lifetime opportunity” to tackle problems on a stretch with “notoriously sub-standard” provision for pedestrians and cyclists will be missed due to the narrow scope of the survey.

WECA’s consultation covers the section of the A4 from the Three Lamps junction in Totterdown, through Brislington and out to Bath, missing out the area that includes Bath Bridge Roundabout towards Temple Meads.

Suzanne Audrey, the vice chair of Totterdown Residents Environmental & Social Action group (TRESA) and a member of Bristol Walking Alliance, says: “The stretch of the A4 Bath Road from Three Lamps junction towards Temple Meads is known to be a problem for pedestrians and cyclists and it seems wrong to leave it out of a survey asking for people’s views about the A4 between Bristol and Bath. Very few people would end their journey at Three Lamps junction – in fact, they wouldn’t be able to as you can’t stop there.

“As a pedestrian heading from Three Lamps junction towards Temple Meads, there is a choice. You can walk on the left-hand side of the road along the narrow pavement and ‘disappear’ for a while into a pedestrian footbridge behind a wall, which feels unsafe especially at night. Or, walking on the right-hand side, you share a notoriously sub-standard pavement with cyclists and e-scooters.”

WECA, which is leading the work in partnership with Bristol City Council and Bath & North East Somerset Council (BANES), says the work is being done in stages and the Bath Bridge Roundabout stretch will be part of a separate, but connected process and will link to the wider redevelopment around Temple Quarter.

There is so far no indication of when this stage of the survey will take place.

The stretch of the A4 covered by the current survey ends at the Three Lamps junction – map courtesy of WECA

Organisations such as TRESA and Bristol Living Streets have raised the issues with the busy commuter route and asked for improvements over the years, but Audrey says they recognise the need for large scale funding.

She adds: “Now that many millions of pounds are being spent in the Temple Quarter area, and WECA are looking to make improvements to the A4 between Bristol and Bath, we have a once in a lifetime opportunity to tackle the problems on that stretch of the road.”

Alongside safety concerns, limited accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists and lengthy bus journeys on the A4, half of the commuter corridor has air quality issues.

WECA’s project aims to move people away from using cars by improving the reliability of bus services between Bristol and Bath, create an ‘end-to-end’ cycle route and improve connections for communities along the route.

The stretch between Bath Bridge Roundabout and the Three Lamps junction has “notoriously inadequate” provision for walkers and cyclists, say campaigners

Encouraging people to take part in the survey, metro mayor Dan Norris said: “This section of the A4 can get horribly congested. People who regularly travel along this road have strong views about air quality and being stuck in traffic jams.

“To reach our ambitious net zero target by 2030, we have to provide better transport options. Cars shouldn’t be the default between Bath and Bristol. There are no quick fixes to the challenges of the busy A4, but this consultation is an important start to finding real and sustainable solutions so I urge everyone take part.”

Mayor Marvin Rees added: “The A4 corridor is already one of the city’s busiest routes, and it will be under even more pressure as the population of Bristol grows.

“We are working to deliver rapid bus and cycle routes as the foundation of our ambitious mass transit plans. By giving buses more priority, we can increase the use of public transport and build a case for government and private organisations to invest in the low carbon, reliable transport network Bristol deserves.”

There are also air quality issues along much of the A4

Further information and details on how to complete the survey are available via www.travelwest.info/projects/improvements-on-a4-bristol-to-bath.

All photos by Ellie Pipe

Read more: ‘Bristol’s transport challenges have huge impacts on residents across the city’