Motorists in the Stokes are being warned to expect delays at a major roundabout on the local road network in the new year.
Improvement works at Great Stoke Roundabout (a.k.a. Rabbit Roundabout), on the border between Bradley Stoke and Stoke Gifford, are due to start on Thursday 2nd January and are expected to take 12 months to complete.
The £2.9 million scheme, funded by the West of England Combined Authority (Weca), includes:
- Increasing all approaches to the roundabout from two lanes to three
- Widening and modifications to road markings on the roundabout
- The installation of Toucan crossings on each of the four arms of the roundabout, prioritised for pedestrians and cyclists
The work will necessitate the temporary closure of footways/cycleways in the vicinity of the roundabout. Diversions will be in place for pedestrians and cyclists, including the use of temporary light controlled crossings on the Winterbourne Road, to the west of the roundabout, and on Great Stoke Way to the south.
Preparatory work that took place before Christmas has seen the construction of a temporary ramp to divert the footway on the west side of Bradley Stoke Way along the top of the embankment. The scrub clearance which took place prior to the installation of the ramp was necessary to “open up the area” to avoid creating a “significant personal safety risk” for members of the public, according to a council source.
Further details about the roundabout improvement scheme are available on the SGC website at www.southglos.gov.uk/majorroadworks
Frequently asked questions about the scheme, answered by South Gloucestershire Council (SGC)
What will be the impact during the work?
Most of the work will be undertaken using narrow lanes and lane closures. Narrow lanes will be operational 24 hours a day and lane closures shall be restricted to off-peak hours where possible.
Journey times will inevitably be affected, we apologise for the inconvenience. We will do everything we can to keep residents and road users informed with up to date information to help with journey planning.
Will cyclists, pedestrians and bus services be affected during the work?
Yes. In order to widen the lanes at the roundabout, it will be necessary to close footways and implement narrow lanes on the carriageway. Where footways are closed, fully signed diversion routes will be in operation. Where narrow lanes are in place, we would encourage cyclists to dismount and use the footways. To maintain access for cyclists and pedestrians throughout the work, we will also be constructing temporary facilities including diversion paths around the roundabout. Work on the temporary facilities started in late November 2019 was planned to be completed before Christmas.
Bus journey times are expected to be impacted due to the increased likelihood of congestion. At times during the construction phase, bus lanes will be reduced in length to accommodate temporary traffic management. When required during construction, the westbound bus stop on the B4057, Winterbourne Road will be temporarily relocated, approximately 85 metres to the east.
Are road closures required and what will the diversion routes be?
Road closures are only expected towards the end of the construction phase, during September and October 2020, to complete the final surfacing and road marking work. We will publicise the signed diversion routes nearer the time and residents in the immediate area will be kept informed.
Emergency services will be advised in advance of any road closures. They will use this information to plan their routes.
Image: Consultation plan [Click to enlarge; view hi-res version: PDF, JPG]
For the latest news on this project, visit the Journal’s dedicated Great Stoke Roundabout Improvements page.
This article originally appeared in the January 2020 issue of the Bradley Stoke Journal magazine (on pages 12 & 13). The magazine is delivered FREE, EVERY MONTH (except August), to ALL 8,700 homes in Bradley Stoke. Phone 01454 300 400 to enquire about advertising or leaflet insertion.
