Bristol is gearing up for a transformative upgrade to its city centre junctions, aimed at establishing an uninterrupted corridor that could support a new tram line in the future. This strategic route would span from the Long Ashton park and ride, located to the south-west of the city, through the bustling heart of Bristol, and continue up the M32 motorway, maintaining near-complete segregation from regular traffic.
Over the coming years, major roadworks will take place at key junctions including the Bedminster Bridges roundabout, Redcliffe roundabout, Union Street, the Haymarket, and Bond Street. These changes are designed to extend the Metrobus M2 service’s reach and ensure it remains free-flowing, eliminating delays caused by traffic congestion.
City Council transport officials envision this “red route” as an ideal corridor for Bristol’s first mass transit line. The upgrades were presented to councillors on the transport policy committee on May 15, highlighting the long-term potential of this initiative.
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Green Councillor Emma Edwards emphasized the foresight behind the project: “This route in future could potentially turn into a mass rapid transit route, whatever that might mean: more buses or maybe other modes as well. We’re trying to solve a problem for the future by creating an unbroken route that could turn into mass transit. We’re trying to think about the long term.”
While the exact nature of Bristol’s future mass transit system remains undecided—options include modern trams or bus rapid transit—the efforts underscore commitment to enhancing public transport infrastructure. The topic has long sparked debate in the region, and the newly elected West of England mayor, Labour’s Helen Godwin, has yet to publicly endorse a specific mode.
Responsibility for detailed planning and implementation of any mass transit system will fall to the West of England Combined Authority. Meanwhile, the city council is laying the groundwork by ensuring the current route from Long Ashton to the M32 benefits existing bus services and integrates future transit plans smoothly.
Adam Crowther, head of city transport, explained the critical need for segregation from general traffic: “Whether mass transit there ends up as a bus or a tram, either way it needs to be fully segregated from traffic, otherwise you get stuck and that’s when they become unreliable and therefore people don’t want to use them. So it’s about providing that full segregation.”
Though the introduction of new bus lanes, particularly on Bond Street, may temporarily increase congestion by reducing space for cars, officials hope enhanced bus services and improved cycling infrastructure will encourage commuters to switch away from private vehicles. This shift aims to tackle Bristol’s chronic traffic jams.
Labour Councillor Tim Rippington supported prioritizing public transport: “One bus carrying 50 passengers really should be given priority, in my opinion, over 25 cars queuing up. I don’t see a problem with stopping the traffic in order to allow a bus to pass by.
“It’s all designed to deliver this red route. The worst thing that could happen is that we deliver all the infrastructure and then the lanes stay empty and we don’t deliver the mass transit route until 10 years later. I’m not even sure that the new metro mayor is aware that this route is our plan.”
Beyond the main corridor, planned changes to the Redcliffe roundabout also open the possibility of establishing an orbital bus service around the city centre. Initially proposed to run anti-clockwise—due to the relative ease of left turns over right turns—this loop represents another step toward integrated urban transit, though funding and operational models remain uncertain.
The red route begins at the Long Ashton park and ride, using an existing bus-only road to reach Cumberland Road on Spike Island, a section recently equipped with a bus gate to restrict general traffic. Proposed adjustments to the Bedminster Bridges roundabout will replace it with a signal-controlled junction, enabling buses coming down Redcliff Hill to make quicker right turns onto Commercial Road.
Redcliff Street will be converted to bus-only traffic, continuing an established priority system that already restricts general traffic over Bristol Bridge, freeing roads for public transport and taxis. The route continues along Union Street, crosses the reconfigured Haymarket junction near Primark, and eventually incorporates plans for bus lanes along the full length of the M32 motorway, coupled with a new park and ride facility.
However, plans for the M32 upgrades and park and ride have encountered delays, largely due to disagreements over the ideal location. The motorway’s future may involve transformation into a downgraded A road, accommodating bus or tram stops and enhancing transit accessibility.
Meanwhile, the West of England Combined Authority is drafting an outline business case to evaluate mass transit options, including trams and bus rapid transit systems. However, an underground subway has been ruled out due to high costs. Given the lengthy approval and business case process, construction of such a network is not expected to begin until the 2030s.
Bristol’s vision represents a long-term commitment to redefining urban mobility, prioritizing efficient, reliable public transit, and reducing reliance on private car travel.