The infamous ‘ghost junction’ on a major motorway just outside Bristol is one step closer to being finished. Despite the M49 having Junction 1 built, it was never joined to the local road network and remains destinationless.
It was built in 2020 to link the M49 to the Avonmouth and Severnside Enterprise Area. At the moment, lorries accessing the industrial park have to drive through local villages.
But nine separate conditions, which prevented the commencement of construction of the link road, have now been discharged. It means that just two conditions remain.
A decision by South Gloucestershire Council, dated November 1, said it was happy to discharge the conditions, which included submitting a work schedule (which suggested that it would take 12 months for the link road to be created) and a construction environmental management plan being approved. Processes for landscaping when creating the link road have been agreed and approved by the council.
It was revealed within that seasonal work took place from September onwards as part of minor works allowed while seeking planning permission. The year-long build includes the installation of a new permanent cycle path.
The remaining conditions preventing the construction of the link road now relate to the current cycle path, which was called ‘redundant’ in earlier plans submitted to the council. The first condition says that full details of fencing off the temporary cycle path and landscape work were submitted and the second being a new temporary cycle path to be in use prior to closing the existing route.
The removal of the temporary cycle path was itself subject to a planning application earlier this year, which was subsequently approved in May. It was subject to conditions relating to plans submitted as part of the link road.
The other conditions relate to either after the completion of the link road or during the development itself. It would not affect the starting date.
In December 2023, a cabinet report suggested it could still take ‘ three years’ due to obtaining compulsory purchase orders.
Want the latest Bristol breaking news and top stories first?Click here to join our WhatsApp group. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read ourPrivacy Notice