News / Transport
Park Street could be closed to through-traffic
Park Street could be closed to through-traffic and a bus gate installed at the top of the road by the end of 2025 as part of “transformative proposals” revealed by Bristol City Council.
People would still be able to drive onto Park Street but access would only be from St George’s Road.
Through-traffic, however, would be fed along Park Row or Anchor Road, with council bosses hoping that this would allow Park Street “to be made into a pleasant environment and encourage people to spend more time supporting the local businesses and cultural venues”.
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Plans also include reducing Queen’s Road to one lane in both directions from Whiteladies Road to the Clifton Triangle, widening the pavements on Park Street and creating a large area of public space in front of the Victoria Rooms.
A continuous segregated cycle lane could be introduced from the bottom of Whiteladies Road to link to the new cycle lane currently being installed on Park Row, George Street made one-way in to Hill Street and Charlotte Street one-way out from Hill Street, and new pedestrian access created to College Green.
The plans are part of the central section of the A37 and A4018 transport corridor improvement project that follows the number 2 bus route from Henbury in the north of Bristol to Stockwood in the south.
The central section of the work is expected to cost around £15m, funded by the government as part of the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement administered by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority.
The purpose of the scheme is to increase the number of trips made by bus, walking, wheeling and cycling as well as encouraging more people to spend time in the Park Street and Queen’s Road area – image: Bristol City Council
Ed Plowden, chair of the transport & connectivity committee, said: “We need to make significant changes to our road network if we are to meet Bristol’s environmental targets and respond to the travel needs of a growing population…
“By changing how road space is used we can speed up buses, so they are more reliable, and create new areas of open space for people to enjoy with new trees, planting and seating areas.
“These are transformative proposals that rethink how road space is allocated and will change the way we all use the area.”
University Road was closed to traffic as part of the previous Labour administration – image: Bristol City Council
Head of network at First Bus, George Burton, said: “We fully support the council’s plans through one of the most congested parts of the city.
“These proposals would make our services more reliable and help to encourage more people to travel by bus along this high frequency transport corridor…
“The scheme to improve the road layout and prioritise buses through this busy part of the city is essential for us to run punctual timetables.
“We need to make bus journey times competitive against other modes if we are to promote sustainable travel in the city.
“These plans, along with other investment into bus infrastructure on key bus routes across the city, will help us to achieve these aims.”
Main image: Bristol City Council
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