M32 traffic plan ‘still going ahead’ amid uncertainty

New bus lanes for the M32 were also proposed

A motorway project to help tackle city congestion is still going ahead despite uncertainty.

Political leaders in the west of England planned to carry out an 'M32 project' in Bristol, but what it would include has been unclear.

Last week a suggested park and ride scheme by the motorway was dropped after transport planners feared it would have pushed drivers to use residential roads in areas such as Fishponds or Frenchay.

Pressed on whether it still included building a park and ride, the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) said it “remained fully committed to tackling congestion”.

'Scope has broadened'

Stephen Peacock, WECA chief executive, said the M32 sustainable transport project had "not been scrapped".

"Put simply, the original plan, because of the nature and scope of it, would not have passed the [Department for Transport] value for money test, so it was clearly not going to work as it was," he said.

“The scope of that piece of work has now been broadened, so it’s a broader geographical area, and it will look into things like travel behaviour, not just along the M32 but around it, including making sure that if we make it harder for people to get onto the M32, we don’t make it as easy for them to take alternative routes.

“Because that clearly would not help congestion or air quality."

'Evidence wasn't stacking up'

A park and ride plan at the M32 has been discussed for many years, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) said.

Under the initial proposal, a park and ride would have been built at the M32's junction 1 on the outskirts of Bristol, as well as new bus lanes.

However traffic modelling suggested drivers would instead use residential roads as alternative routes, if there was less space on the motorway.

This would make residential areas more polluted and could slow down some bus routes, according to the authority.

The LDRS said the authority did not mention a park and ride when asked if the project still includes one after the meeting.

A spokesman for the combined authority said: “We are continuing work to progress with the M32 sustainable transport corridor project.

"Last week the mayor and members of the combined authority committee approved the revised milestones and funding allocations for this important project, and we expect an outline business case will be submitted early next year.

“We remain fully committed to addressing the challenges relating to congestion, which causes both noise and air pollution, affecting local residential areas and those using the M32.”