Region: South Gloucestershire

A number of sustainable travel improvements along the A4174 ring road have been substantially completed, with over 4km of improved cycle lanes and footpaths between Wick Wick roundabout and Coldharbour Lane.

The work includes new paths, widening of existing paths, resurfacing and new pedestrian crossings. An additional left-hand lane for vehicles on Coldharbour Lane has also been added, along with new speed limits on parts of the ring road to make using the improved paths safer and to meet road design requirements.

These changes are part of a wider regional programme to make walking, cycling/wheeling and public transport not only viable, but the preferred way of getting around – especially for shorter journeys.

Final stages of resurfacing the ring road are still underway along with traffic light improvements at Quakers Road junction and are due to be completed by mid-December. A new northbound lane from Wick Wick roundabout to the M4 overbridge and two southbound lanes to the roundabout, will be completed in conjunction with the bridge replacement works by National Highways.

Councillor Sean Rhodes, cabinet member for communities and local place, said:

“The completion of the A4174 improvements is a major milestone in our work to provide more sustainable travel choices across South Gloucestershire.

“We want to provide people with more travel options to help encourage a shift away from car use, reduce congestion and emissions and improve air quality.

“We would like to thank residents and road users for their patience whilst we have delivered this scheme and hope many local people will be able to make use of the improved infrastructure.”

Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, said:

“It’s great to see these improvements along the A4174 have been completed. New and improved cycle lanes and footpaths along this key route in South Gloucestershire will make a big difference to people’s everyday journeys.

“Getting the basics right by fixing our region’s roads and bridges, and improving public transport and walking and cycling options, will lay the foundations for a better transport system overall for the West of England.

“In the longer term, thanks to the record £752 million that we secured in the summer’s Spending Review for future transport investment, we can move the West out of the slow lane and start to catch up with other city-regions, with better buses, more trains, and mass transit plans.”

Funding for the improvements was approved in late 2024 and construction started in February 2025. The total scheme cost is expected to be £15.3 million funded by the Department for Transport through the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement which was secured by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority.

A video can be viewed by visiting https://youtu.be/_YjLi_NMdXY

More information is available at www.southglos.gov.uk/a4174-improvements

Original press by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority