To ease traffic congestion during extensive roadworks, North Somerset Council has decided to suspend two bus lanes in Weston-super-Mare. The major construction, scheduled from May 2026 to January 2027 along the B3440, Queensway, and Bristol Road in Worle, will replace traffic signals with roundabouts and add a bypass lane.
Council leader Mike Bell expressed the need for these temporary changes, stating, “We’ve heard concerns about pressure on our road network. While long-term investment is needed to improve motorway access, temporarily suspending these bus lanes offers immediate relief.”
The bus lane on Bristol Road near the Food Warehouse leading to the Queensway junction will be closed to facilitate smoother left turns and reduce queues. Additionally, the newly installed bus lane on the slip road from Somerset Avenue (A370) onto Bristol Road (B3440) will remain non-operational until the Queensway upgrades are completed. However, the bus lane on the slip road directing traffic onto Somerset Avenue towards Junction 21 will continue to operate.
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Signage indicating “bus lane not in use” will be placed alongside the suspended lanes to inform drivers. Hugh Malyan, the council’s cabinet member for highways and transport, emphasized, “Temporarily suspending the bus lanes will help keep traffic moving through this critical upgrade. These essential works aim to improve long-term reliability for all road users.”
The Queensway project aims to increase traffic capacity during peak hours, with the bus lanes on Bristol Road and Somerset Avenue slip roads designed to enhance bus service reliability. Currently, buses make up just 1% of vehicles on the A370 corridor but carry 20% of the people traveling it.
This effort is part of the council’s broader “bus service improvement plan,” supported by significant government funding to upgrade bus infrastructure across North Somerset. Despite the benefits, bus lane rollouts have faced controversy. Earlier in 2024, the council paused bus lane expansions following public backlash and later canceled a £2.2 million plan for a 260-meter bus lane in Backwell.
Bus lanes are intended to speed up bus journeys, making routes more economical and sustainable in the long run. Alongside these changes, the council is investing in upgraded bus stops, transport hubs with better amenities such as seating and real-time arrival screens, and reduced bus fares to encourage public transport use.