Work to improve the Old Market Gap to get underway this month
Work to introduce new segregated cycling, improve cyclist and pedestrian safety, and join the recently completed Old Market Roundabout cycle route with Castle Park will begin on Monday 11 September.
The £1.2 million construction work on the Castle Street and Tower Hill junction will see a section of Castle Street, between Lower Castle Street and Queen Street, closed throughout the works and a diversion will be signposted. When it reopens, the left turn onto Lower Castle Street will change to a right turn only onto Tower Hill.
Improvements include:
- a segregated cycle route on Tower Hill with protected pedestrian spaces that connect Old Market roundabout and Castle Street
- wider and safer crossing points for people walking and cycling
- high quality surfaces with consistent paving, and more plants and trees in and around the junction
The scheme will close a gap in a cycle route to the east, linking the recently completed Old Market roundabout with Castle Park. It is hoped cyclists will use this new route in favour of the Temple Way underpass as it is much quieter and cyclists and pedestrians will no longer need to share space, reducing conflict and potential accidents.
I’m delighted that work is starting to improve this junction for pedestrians and cyclists, offering an alternate route to the Temple Way underpass which can get very busy.
Councillor Don Alexander, Cabinet Member for Transport,
It’s a key priority of this administration to continue to make our roads safer and more accessible for all, to encourage more people to travel actively and improve their health while helping us to cut congestion and air pollution in the city.
“This is one of a series of projects that we’re progressing to make cycling and walking throughout Bristol a safer and more pleasant experience.”
Towards the end of the works, Lower Castle Street, Old Market Street and Tower Hill will close for around a week for resurfacing works that will mainly take place overnight.
There will also be two temporary crossings for pedestrians to replace ones that will be switched off because of the works.
This project is being funded by the West of England Combined Authority through a grant from the Department for Transport’s Active Travel Fund.
Work is expected to be completed by April 2024.
