South Gloucestershire Council’s Cabinet has given approval for officers to enter into an agreement with Great Western Railway (GWR) for the implementation of a scheme of improvements at Bristol Parkway that could make it easier for MetroBus services to access the station from early 2020.

The original MetroBus network, as described in the planning application for the North Fringe to Hengrove Package bus rapid transit scheme, included a route between Emersons Green and Bristol Parkway via UWE, but this was silently dropped during the construction phase. It later emerged that this was because MetroBus vehicles could not currently enter and leave the station via the rear (Hunts Ground Road) entrance due to the constrained nature of the site. This was originally thought to be due to the tight turns that the access road makes around the station’s multi-storey car park. However, First Bus boss James Freeman later revealed that the issue is actually one of buses coming in via the rear access not being able to execute a turnaround manoeuvre so that they can go out the same way.

There was never any plan for buses on the Hengrove Park to Cribbs Causeway route (now known as the M1) to make a diversion into and back out of the station. Whether this might change in the future is open to speculation, but to do so would significantly add to M1 journey times which are already bettered by the less frequent T1 service.

A council spokesperson said:

“Bristol Parkway is identified as a key bus/rail interchange for the MetroBus network and local bus services. Officers have been working with GWR to develop a scheme to facilitate enhanced interchange at the station.”

The Journal has learned that a £650k scheme has been designed, which the council will part-fund, with GWR, to the tune of £300k. As well as facilitating in-out bus movements via the Hunts Ground Road entrance, the scheme will provide additional bus stops in the station forecourt and see the renewal of the existing bus shelters.

GWR has advised the council that if a funding package is confirmed by the end of May 2019, then the project could be completed within the 2019/20 financial year, prior to the end of the its current franchise period.

Whether a commercial operator can be found to operate a MetroBus service to the station and when such a service might start remain open questions.

This article originally appeared in the April 2019 issue of the Stoke Gifford Journal magazine (on page 14). The magazine is delivered FREE, EVERY MONTH, to over 5,000 homes in Stoke Gifford, Little Stoke and Harry Stoke. Phone 01454 300 400 to enquire about advertising or leaflet insertion.

Share this article:

Discussion is open - be the first to comment - click here to respond.

South Gloucestershire Council (SGC) says it received an “excellent” response rate to a recently conducted online travel survey aimed at users of Gipsy Patch Lane. The results of the survey will be used to help plan the traffic management needed during a series of full closures of the road, the first of which is due to start on Monday 3rd June and last for one month.

The road closures, over a period of nearly two years, are needed to allow the existing narrow arch railway bridge to be replaced by a much wider concrete structure.

The work is being carried out as part of the Cribbs Patchway MetroBus Extension (CPME) scheme, which also involves the creation of new bus lanes along parts of Gipsy Patch Lane.

Local residents may have noticed temporary traffic survey cameras mounted at various points around the Stokes during March. SGC has confirmed that these cameras are connected to the CPME works. A spokesperson said:

“We will use recorded data to determine journey times and the number of vehicles travelling between the points at which the cameras are located. This will help us to plan diversion routes and traffic management in the area during the CPME construction work. We may use cameras for this purpose at other times during the project too.”

“We will publicise further information about the June highway closure as soon as it is confirmed – we currently expect this to be in early May. Following that, there will be further information published on an ongoing basis associated with phases of construction and traffic management.”

More information: MetroBus Extension Build

This article originally appeared in the April 2019 issue of the Stoke Gifford Journal magazine (on page 3). The magazine is delivered FREE, EVERY MONTH, to over 5,000 homes in Stoke Gifford, Little Stoke and Harry Stoke. Phone 01454 300 400 to enquire about advertising or leaflet insertion.

Share this article:

Discussion is open - be the first to comment - click here to respond.

Residents of the Stokes have until Wednesday this week (20th March) to complete a travel survey that South Gloucestershire Council (SGC) is conducting ahead of what is expected to be nearly two years of disruptive roadworks on Gipsy Patch Lane.

Major work is due to begin is soon to extend the MetroBus network from The Mall bus station to Bristol Parkway train station, via the forthcoming Cribbs Patchway New Neighbourhood on the former Filton Airfield.

Working with Network Rail, this includes replacing the railway bridge over Gipsy Patch Lane with a wider bridge to enable lanes for general traffic, shared use paths and bus lanes in both directions. The scheme will also include footway widening and new bus lanes along other sections of Gipsy Patch Lane.

During the construction period there will be both full and partial closures to Gipsy Patch Lane.

Work should be completed and MetroBuses running on the Cribbs Patchway MetroBus Extension (CPME) route by early 2022.

An SGC spokesperson said:

“We understand that all of these roadworks will have a major impact on traffic in the nearby and wider area. We apologise in advance for this inconvenience and would like to assure you that we are doing everything we can to minimise disruption to residents, businesses and road users.”

The council has launched a travel survey to better understand travel patterns on Gipsy Patch Lane and it is encouraging anyone who travels or lives along Gipsy Patch Lane to take part. The survey should only take five minutes to complete and will be open until Wednesday 20th March 2019.

To complete the survey, visit www.southglos.gov.uk/GPLsurvey

The results of the survey, together with monitoring of traffic flows in the area, including the use of temporary traffic cameras, will be used to plan for the traffic management required during the CPME construction work.

More information: MetroBus Extension Build (The Journal)

Share this article:

Discussion is open - 1 comment (view) - click here to respond.

South Gloucestershire Council (SGC) has today confirmed rumours that Gipsy Patch Lane will be closed to all traffic at the railway bridge for a period of four weeks this June (2019).

The news comes less than three months after council officers assured a packed public meeting that the most disruptive roadworks associated with the upcoming Cribbs Patchway MetroBus Extension (CPME) scheme would not commence until 2020.

The June 2019 road closure is said to be necessary for BT to carry out preparatory work to divert underground utilities.

The main CPME construction programme, which is yet to be finalised, is anticipated to include an approximate eight-month closure of Gipsy Patch Lane from early 2020 to enable the replacement of the railway bridge.

A council spokesperson said:

“Gipsy Patch Lane will be closed to all highway users, including pedestrians and cyclists, at the railway bridge for approximately four weeks from Monday 3rd June. A signed diversion route will be in place during this time. Access to properties and side roads along Gipsy Patch Lane will be maintained and no disruption to the supply of utilities is expected. Dates of the full closure will be clearly signposted to give adequate notice.”

“Undertaking the utility diversion work at this early stage reduces the overall level of disruption to Gipsy Patch Lane and will help us to ensure that the later construction work keeps to programme.”

The spokesperson added that BT is expected to commence work on Monday 25th February, but the initial phase of work is not expected to cause any disruption to road users or to the supply of BT services, although some foot/cycle paths may be affected.

Further details of the June 2019 road closure and the latest news on the overall CPME project will be published in the March issues of the Stoke Gifford Journal and Bradley Stoke Journal magazines.

More information and related related links:

• Cribbs Patchway MetroBus Extension (The Journal)
• Cribbs Patchway MetroBus Extension (Travelwest)
• Cribbs Patchway MetroBus Extension (SGC)

Share this article:

Discussion is open - be the first to comment - click here to respond.