Deadlock broken over dead-end motorway junction near Bristol

The deadlock appears to have been broken over a dead-end motorway junction on the outskirts of Bristol.

The £50million junction on the M49 in Severn Beach was built nearly two years ago.

But motorists have been unable to use it because of disputes over who is responsible for connecting it to the road network.

In January, South Gloucestershire Council said the business park’s owners, Delta Properties, were responsible for building the link road, but the company has refuted the claim saying it has “no legal obligation” to provide it.

Last month, the council said it was the joint responsibility of Delta and National Highways (formerly Highways England), who together own the strip of land on which the access road needs to be built.

But now the council’s ruling Conservative cabinet has made a decision behind closed doors following the receipt of a confidential report about options for getting the link road built.

The decision, made on October 11 and published on the council’s website on Wednesday (October 13), was “to approve the officer recommendations to deliver the link road to join the new M49 junction with the local highway network”.

A spokesperson said: “This decision is an important step forwards and will allow us to progress work with our partners in delivering the M49 link to unlock the significant benefits that it will bring to South Gloucestershire, local communities and the wider region.”

Meanwhile, the situation is causing havoc for people living in the surrounding villages, according to a parish councillor.

Pilning and Severn Beach Parish Council chairman Peter Tyzack said: “All the traffic that would be going on the motorway is coming through the villages, which is a nightmare for us.

He said he does not expect the link road to be finished and ready for use until late next year at the earliest, because of the “legal hoops” involved and the extra time it takes to prepare a flood plain before it can be built on.

“From the day they dig the first turf, it’ll be 12 months before the road can be opened,” he said. “We’ll be lucky if we get it open for next Christmas.”