A funding package of almost £9.6 million for three strategic corridor projects has been approved at the first meeting of the council’s new Transport and Connectivity Committee (Thursday 11 July 2024).

These infrastructure projects will change the way people travel through some of Bristol’s main routes, including the city centre.

They include:

• £4 million to develop and submit plans to the West of England Combined Authority for a city centre project, in preparation for future regeneration and development as set out in the Bristol City Centre Development and Delivery Plan, which would see more people living in and travelling through the area. Proposals include changing the route some buses travel through the city centre, preparing the way for a segregated rapid transit route from the south west to the north east of the city; pedestrianising key streets in Broadmead; and improving infrastructure to make walking, wheeling and cycling safer and easier.    
• £1.6 million to create detailed designs for the A4 Portway route for new bus lanes and walking, wheeling and cycling infrastructure.
• £4 million to develop and prepare businesses cases to the West of England Combined Authority for the A37/A4018 project, which has been separated into smaller work packages. This includes improvements to make travelling by bus on the number 2 route quicker and more reliable, along with a whole host of changes to make walking, wheeling and cycling safer and easier.

The committee agreed to the funding requests, which means the three strategic corridor projects will progress.

I am really excited about these far reaching plans and look forward to having a city that ultimately works better for everyone.

Improving these three major transport routes for public transport and active travel means we will have realistic options for people who want to travel sustainably as we look to remove as much carbon from our transport network as we can.

This summer we’ll be asking people who live, work, visit and travel through Bristol city centre to give us their views on proposals that will transform the area. From making Broadmead more welcoming and attractive, to preparing the way for the central element of a future rapid transit route, the plans would change how most people travel through the city centre, and I am looking forward to launching the consultation in the coming weeks.

We’ll release more information about the A4 Portway and A37/A4018 projects when we reach the next stages.

Councillor Plowden, Chair of the Transport and Connectivity Committee

Funding for the strategic corridors programmes is being provided by the UK Government through the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement, administered by the West of England Combined Authority. This funding aims to enhance transport infrastructure, connectivity, and accessibility across eight city regions in England including Bristol.

More information can be viewed within the Transport and Connectivity Policy Committee – Agenda and Decisions page.

Press release by Bristol City Council.