New bike lanes for A38 revealed

PEOPLE are being asked to have their say on new bus and bike lanes, shared paths and bus stop improvements on the A38.

South Gloucestershire Council says it wants to make travelling by bike and walking or wheeling safer, make travel by public transport more attractive, encourage more people to switch to "sustainable" travel options and thereby take vehicles off the roads and reduce congestion.

It has launched a consultation on a new, two-phase scheme to improve the main road between Thornbury and Bradley Stoke.

Proposals for the road between Thornbury and Almondsbury include:

• A two-way cycle track between Almondsbury and Alveston

• A new bus lane southbound approaching Hortham Lane

• Improvements to bus stops

• Improved walking, wheeling and cycling facilities

• Speed limit reductions to 30mph at Almondsbury and Rudgeway.

Further works are planned south of the M4 on Bradley Stoke Way.

The council has launched a consultation on phase one of the project during March, asking for people's views on the proposals.

A second consultation will be held on phase two later in the year, with feedback used to "finalise these designs to ensure that they meet the needs of users and the local community".

A full business case will then be submitted to the West of England Combined Authority, with a view to starting work next year.

England Combined Authority through its £540 million City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement Fund.

What new bike lanes could look like in Almondsbury. Picture: South Gloucestershire Council

Council cabinet member for transport Steve Reade said: “It’s really important that we get the views of people who live, work or travel through the area as they will influence the steps we take to encourage sustainable travel.

“We are preparing for the local impact of climate change and an important part of our response is to provide improvements for walking, cycling, wheeling and public transport."

The project is set to be funded by the West of

Metro Mayor Dan Norris said: "It needs to be as easy as possible for residents to be able to hop on a bus or walk and cycle their way around Thornbury, Bradley Stoke, and across our brilliant West of England region. I hope measures like these will help cut traffic jams and enable us to make progress towards our really ambitious net-zero targets locally.”

A drop-in session will be held at Jubilee Hall in Alveston on March 8 from 4-6pm so people can view the plans and ask questions.

An online session will be held on March 9 from noon to 1pm.

The consultation is open until midnight on March 19.

For more information visit www.southglos.gov.uk/a38phase1.

More details: Page 34