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.

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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)

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Council in race against time to secure extra funding in order to achieve planned 2020 implementation date.

Plans to replace the narrow-arched railway bridge on Gipsy Patch Lane with a much wider concrete structure have been thrown into turmoil following the revelation that the work could cost tens of millions of pounds more than was originally estimated.

The bridge replacement forms a major element of the Cribbs Patchway MetroBus Extension (CPME) scheme, which will provide a direct express bus link between Bristol Parkway railway station and The Mall bus station via the forthcoming new developments on the Filton Airfield site.

The cost of the CPME scheme, which includes highway works to create new bus lanes on some sections of the route, was originally estimated at £35m, to be funded through an allocation from the West of England’s Economic Development Fund (EDF), subject to approval of a full business case submission.

In 2015, South Gloucestershire Council chose to proceed with a wider design for the Gipsy Patch Lane railway bridge than had originally been envisaged, adding £5m to the overall CPME scheme cost, subject to an additional funding source being identified.

But with the council now ploughing ahead with its plan to implement the Gipsy Patch Lane bridge replacement during a 12-day closure of the railway over Easter 2020, it has been told by Network Rail that the costs for the work are likely to be “significantly higher” than originally estimated, bringing the overall CPME scheme price tag to between £60m and £75m (an increase of at least £20m).

With the Network Rail tendering process still under way, the reasons for the cost increase have been deemed commercially sensitive, so they have not been revealed to the public.

More: Council is negotiating a ‘break clause’ with Network Rail »

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Local councillors concerned about the impact of a two-year programme of work to replace the railway bridge on Gipsy Patch Lane have called for a residents’ liaison group to be set up as soon as January 2019, despite Network Rail having yet to appoint a contractor for the project.

A packed public meeting held in Little Stoke Community Hall on 19th November, attended by around 100 local residents, heard two officers from South Gloucestershire Council present an overview of the planned work, which they said would require an anticipated eight-month full closure of the road in the vicinity the bridge during 2020.

Wider works east and west of the bridge, to create new bus lanes for the Cribbs Patchway MetroBus Extension scheme (CPME), will require road closures in one direction only, or the use temporary traffic lights.

To minimise disruption, a site compound will be created on a parcel of land within the Horizon 38 development (former Rolls-Royce East Works site).

The replacement bridge will be pre-cast here and manoeuvred into position during a 12-day closure of the railway currently planned for Easter 2020. The bridge replacement and directly associated highway work is being undertaken by Network Rail (NR). The procurement process for a contractor is ongoing by Network Rail, with a contractor expected to be confirmed in early 2019. The other (highway) works, away from the bridge, will be done in-house by SGC’s Streetcare division, with possible sub-contracting of small elements.

Officers stated that while there is likely to be traffic disruption during 2019, the greatest disruption for road users is likely to be in 2020 and 2021. Vehicle diversion routes will be planned in advance and well signed and advertised. This will include “diverting as much through traffic as possible away from the area”.

It is anticipated that a shuttle bus will be provided to mitigate the impact on non-motorised users and it was stated that the possibility of providing a pedestrian and cycle link via the railway bridge linking Little Stoke Park with the Rolls-Royce site is being investigated.

More: Concerns over parking and increased traffic on diversion routes »

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