South Gloucestershire Council

Published: 16/06/2015

Work on a £14m scheme to rebuild the A403 and support economic growth in Avonmouth and Severnside is starting in July after South Gloucestershire Council and Bristol City Council secured funding from the Department for Transport.

Businesses and residents are being invited to have their say on roadworks starting next month to revamp the route from St Andrews Road Roundabout, Avonmouth, to Aust, South Gloucestershire.

The work is due to start in July for eight months to enable the 50-year-old road to cope with plans to expand the Avonmouth and Severnside Enterprise Area by 650 hectares and bring 14,000 jobs in the next decade.

The road and pavement will be reconstructed with a four metre wide, shared use cycle way created and energy efficient street lighting and improved drainage systems installed.

Mark King, Head of Street Care and Transport at South Gloucestershire Council, said: “South Gloucestershire Council look forward to working with Bristol City Council on this joint project.
“This is an opportunity to make a real step change for road connectivity in the area, in terms of safety for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists, and also to enable economic growth by better linking the enterprise area with the rest of the region.
“Work within South Gloucestershire is due to begin later in the summer, with further information and consultation with businesses and residents before work commences.”

There will be disruption and times when sections of the road will be closed, but the work will enable the road to support traffic growth over the next 20 years without any major maintenance.

Road closures will take place at night where possible and both councils are working with SevernNet, an enterprise run by businesses in Avonmouth and Severnside, to lessen the disruption.

Kate Royston, co-ordinator for SevernNet, said: “The road is in a very poor state and the conditions for anyone wanting to walk or cycle are quite perilous. It’s also not possible for buses to stop at key points on the route so people find it difficult to get to work.
“Many businesses, particularly those furthest from Avonmouth, struggle to maintain full staff levels and the improved bus and cycle links should really improve things.
“It will be a difficult time while the work is being done, but everybody is really supportive of the scheme and we’re working together to minimise the disruption.”

As part of the work the four lanes on St Andrew’s Road will be reduced to two and a right turn lane will be introduced.

The road surface will be improved to extend the life of the highway, while also reducing accidents and vehicle running costs.

Information leaflets have been issued to businesses and community groups in the area inviting feedback on the scheme before the end of the consultation period on June 30. A meeting is also being held at 1.30pm on Wednesday 24 June at the Avonmouth Community Centre on Avonmouth Road to discuss ways to minimise disruption.

Anyone with comments on the proposals can contact Bristol City Council’s Highways and Traffic Team before Tuesday 30 June on 0117 903 6822 or highways.traffic@bristol.gov.uk.