Portway revamp works to continue until May 2027

Ana da SilvaBristol
PA Drone view of A4 Portway running along under the Clifton Suspension Bridge and the River Avon. It's a bright sunny day and there's lots of green vegetation on either side of the river. The river is running dry and above skies are light blue.PA
The Portway in Bristol is undergoing major improvement works

Motorists can expect delays to continue on a major city route as works to install new bus and cycle lanes are scheduled to continue until May 2027.

Work began last summer on the A4 Portway in Bristol as part of Bristol City Council's plans to encourage sustainable travel.

Ed Plowden, chair of the council's transport and connectivity committee, said the improvements would help cut carbon emissions while "creating safe and more attractive spaces for walking, wheeling and cycling".

Lane closures will be in place during the project's upcoming third and "main phase" but the Portway will remain open to traffic in and out of the city.

Work started this week between Portway Roundabout and Park Road, and will continue for a further 14 months.

It will include new traffic lights, reduced speed limits, improvements to bus stops, drainage work and resurfacing.

The project is being carried out in stages and will finish with resurfacing along the six-mile (9.6km) route, which will include painting the new 24-hour bus lanes.

Meanwhile, the Roman Way junction with the Portway and Sabrina Way will be closed until Friday for drainage and kerb works. Drivers will be diverted but residents, pedestrians and cyclists can still access the area.

14 months of further works and delays on the Portway

'Low-carbon Bristol'

The council has said the changes will speed up bus journeys and make walking and cycling safer but the plans have faced criticism, with some councillors arguing it will increase congestion and pollution with less space for vehicles to travel.

Plowden said: "Transforming the A4 Portway is a key part of our long‑term vision for this major transport corridor that can support Bristol's future growth.

"This investment will improve day‑to‑day journeys now and ensure the Portway can meet the demands of a growing, better-connected, low‑carbon Bristol."

The project has been funded by the UK government as part of the Department for Transport's City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement, secured by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority.

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