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South Bristol MetroBus link approved
The Department of Transport has given the go-ahead for the South Bristol link section of MetroBus.
The decision releases £27.6m of government funding, to start construction on the 3.1 miles of busway from Long Ashton to Hengrove.
In a statement the Joint Transport Board of the West of England said it was the “final tick in the box” that allows building work on the project to begin. If all goes according to plan, the South Bristol Link will be open by the winter of 2016.
Colin Skellett, chair of the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership, said it is “excellent news” and the link will “open up south Bristol to new business opportunities, continuing the regeneration of the area and improving access to the fast growing Bristol Airport”.
is needed now More than ever
According to Bristol West MP Stephen Williams, the money is “another sign of government confidence in Bristol”.
He said that the new MetroBus route and “significant investment” in rail networks, means “Bristol is at last getting the public transport network that it has lacked for so long”.
The scheme announced today consists of a combined new road and rapid transit link to the south and west of Bristol city centre between the A370 Long Ashton Bypass and Hengrove Park. The Department for Transport will fund up to £27.6 million towards the £43.3 million total cost.
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