Busy Bristol road to close again next month to remove tree - here's what you need to know
Busy Bristol road scheduled to close next month for tree removal. Here’s what locals need to prepare for.
Passage Road (A4018), between Crow Lane roundabout and Charlton Road is closed from today (July 14) until August 1 for essential works.
These works focus on rebuilding the southbound section of the road and once completed, the northbound side of the same stretch of road will be closed to rebuild it.
This phase is due to take place from August 4 to 8 between 8pm and 5.30am.
The road was originally constructed with poor quality materials, including a base that is not strong enough and a top layer of tarmac that is too thin.
During the northbound closure of the road, the council will repair some potholes further down the road, towards Charlton Road as a temporary fix until the whole road is resurfaced later in the two-year project.
The project will see the installation of peak hour bus lanes, a two-way cycleway, a pedestrian crossing and removing 21 trees in August following an ecological survey.
.jpeg?trim=1646,0,370,0&crop=&width=640&quality=65)
The council approved plans to remove the trees, following a public consultation that set out that the trees would be replaced by 29 new trees planted along Passage Road.
The trees will be turned into woodchip, which will be graded and dried at the council’s Blaise depot. The woodchip will then be used to fuel bio-mass boilers, including some in public buildings like schools and leisure facilities.
Signposted diversions will be in place via Greystoke Avenue, Pen Park Road and Knole Lane and properties on the northbound side of Passage Road will be accessible via Dragonswell Road, which will be controlled by a traffic marshall.
The number 1 bus travelling towards Cribbs Causeway will be diverted via Charlton Road and Knole Lane and the Ridgeway and Brentry Lane bus stops will be suspended overnight.
Access for pedestrians and cyclists will be maintained throughout the works.
Councillor Ed Plowden, Chair of the Transport and Connectivity Committee, said: “I am pleased we’ve been able to programme in this latest round of roadworks overnight and during the school summer holidays to reduce disruption.
“The work will help us to extend the life of Passage Road, alongside the wider project to improve access for the number 1 bus service and make active travel routes safer and more pleasant.
“Through this project, we’re working to make Passage Road more accessible to all – whether you travel by bus, walk, wheel or cycle. By moving the central reservation, we can build a separated two-way cycleway, which will make cycling along this busy dual carriageway much safer.
“It is disappointing that we need to lose some existing trees - relocating them was an option that was carefully considered but is unfeasible. We will of course replace all the trees by planting even more which, in time, will increase shade and add interest along the route.”