Five key areas in the city centre could see major changes under new plans. The transformation of the city centre – which would help it prepare for an additional 5,000 people living in the area – would see Bond Street and Temple Way look very different, among others.
The plans also cover areas such as Redcliffe Roundabout and the Bedminster Bridges, aiming to improve the route for buses, and would see Broadmead pedestrianized. The overall project would see the city centre change drastically as new cycle lanes would be introduced, bus stops changed and replaced and a new junction linking the Haymarket to Union Street being created.
Union Street would become a two-way bus gate, with other bus gates being installed around the proposed developments, while The Horsefair and Penn Street would be pedestrianised.
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The plans are aimed at removing traffic from the city centre and making it easier for those dependent on using cars, including disabled people, to travel around Bristol. There are also plans for three and a half kilometres of segregated cycle paths – which Bristol City Council hope to begin installing by March 2027.
Cllr Ed Plowden, chair of the Transport and Connectivity Committee, told Bristol Live: “If you’re thinking of driving into Bristol by car, don’t bother,” when referencing how the proposed plans would affect vehicles. This was met with backlash from Cllr Kelvin Blake (Labour, Hillfields) who said it would “create a no-go zone for disabled people” and said it was shocking that Cllr Plowden would say to not bother driving.
Here is how Bond Street and Temple Way would change under the plans:
How would Bond Street change?
The area between the east side of St James Barton roundabout, which includes Bond Street, its junction with Bond Street South, Newfoundland Circus and Newfoundland Road, and the M32 would change. An outbound bus lane would be created on Bond Street which would see the on-road cycle lane removed, meaning a bus lane would run in both directions.
A two-way cycle route through streets running parallel to Bond Street, from the St James Barton roundabout to York Street, would instead be created. The bus lane would be used by the metrobus services, local services including those heading into South Gloucestershire, and intercity coaches.
The southside of Portland Square would also change as the current one-way road would be replaced with a contraflow cycle lane. Eight parking spaces would be lost on the square to make way for the two-way cycle lane, providing a safer route from the city centre to Concorde Way.
Other proposals include:
- Extending the westbound bus lane on Newfoundland Circus to the Cabot Circus car park entrance, meaning the road would be widened at the Houlton Street junction to install the bus lane
- Adding a new set of traffic lights at the end of the M32 heading into the city centre to allow buses to get to bus lanes easier
- Installing new road humps
- Improving the pedestrian crossing on St Paul Street by removing the contraflow cycle lane there currently
How would Temple Way change?
Temple Way would also be affected by changes from its northern end to its junction with the Friary, just before Bristol Temple Meads. A minor change to the Old Market roundabout and bus stops north of the roundabout would also be in effect.
A new bus lane would be installed north of the Old Market roundabout heading towards the railway station and a two-way segregated cycle route would be created on the southbound slip road of the roundabout. A bus lane would also bypass the bus stop allowing easier access.
The Temple Way T8 bus stop, outside the Hilton Garden Inn, would be relocated south so a bus lane can be added alongside the road. This would mean that buses could overtake stopped buses.
Other changes would include:
- Installing a two-way segregated cycle lane from the Stag and Hounds to the Friary
- Better cycle crossings at Avon Street and from Temple Back to Temple Back East
- Pavements being at least two metres in width at the cycle crossings
- Providing a small section of new bus lane on Old Market roundabout to help buses turning north from Old Market
- Narrowing the central reservation north of Temple Back East
- Retaining trees on the east side of Temple Way and repairing the pavement which roots have broken. It is also possible that new planting would be added
- Upgrading the southbound bus stop opposite Tower Street
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