Work on the third and final phase of the A4 Portway project in Bristol is set to start on Monday. The project aims to improve the route for pedestrians, cyclists, and buses. The final phase includes creating 24-hour bus lanes, reducing speed limits, improving junctions, adding more green space and tree planting, and installing new street lighting.
Work will start on Monday between Portway Roundabout and Park Road, including replacing traffic lights and street lights, improving bus stops and drainage, and resurfacing the road and painting new road markings. Motorists should plan for delays on the A4 Portway, with lane closures scheduled. Roman Way’s junction with the Portway will close on Monday until 7pm on Friday, March 9, for clearing, drainage, and kerb works.
Diversions will be in place for drivers accessing the Portway from Roman Way, with specified routes for northbound and southbound travel. The A4 Portway will need to close completely at some point towards the end of the project, currently scheduled for May 2027, for resurfacing works, though the exact dates are not yet known. Phase two of the A4 Portway project is still ongoing and has been delayed, with work now scheduled to finish this summer.
The council has not given a reason for the delay. ' Separately, a key bridge at junction 19 of the M5 motorway near Bristol will partially shut for repair works. The south side of the bridge at junction 19 of the M5 will close from 8pm on Friday until 6am on Monday.
The north section of the same bridge at junction 19 of the M5 will shut during the same hours the following weekend. The bridge refurbishment work involves repairs to concrete bridge parapets, replacement of damaged bridge expansion joints, surface renewal, drainage, and verge improvements. The work will ultimately lead to smoother journeys for drivers and reduce the need for regular maintenance closures.
' In addition, Plimsoll Bridge in Bristol, which carries the A3029, will close between 8pm on Tuesday, March 10 and 6am on Wednesday, March 11 for essential repairs. Plimsoll Bridge will close completely and be swung open to allow repairs to its bearing and to maintain the drains. Traffic will be diverted down and around the Cumberland Basin, with work done overnight to avoid disruption to daytime or rush hour traffic and clashes with matches at Ashton Gate Stadium.
' He added: 'We’ve planned in the closure overnight so it will have as little impact as possible, while avoiding big events at the stadium. ' Drivers will be diverted with signposts, using Merchants Bridge as an alternative, but should expect delays and queues even overnight due to one-lane traffic.