City bus service to extend with £3.6m investment

The money will be used to expand the M1 service and improve traffic measures for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians

Plans to spend £3.6m on extending a city bus route has been approved.

Bristol City Council will lead the work which includes expanding the M1 bus service to three more locations in south Bristol and upgrading six bus stops with new shelters and real-time display boards.

The plans were backed by Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, Tony Dyer, leader of the city council and Karin Smyth, MP for Bristol South.

Ms Godwin said: "Together we're beginning to build the bus network that people across our region deserve."

The M1 bus already runs north to south through the city between Cribbs Causeway and Hengrove Park, with services every 10 minutes at peak times.

Under the plans, the route would extend to cover William Jessop Way, Hawkfield Road and Imperial Retail Park.

The investment also includes a new two-way segregated cycleway and traffic calming measures along Hawkfield Road, up to Hartcliffe Way.

Upgraded crossings will be installed at the junction of Whitchurch Lane and William Jessop Way, as well as at Briscoes Avenue, Butterfly Lane and Fulford Road with Hawkfield Road.

'Improve transport'

Mr Dyer said the investment was "great news".

"This is a good example of how we can use Bristol's proportion of the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement, working with the Mayoral Combined Authority, to improve sustainable transport links across Bristol," he said.

Ms Smyth said: "I welcome the additional bus provision for my constituents with the extension of the M1 to Imperial Park."

The project will be funded by the government's City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement for the West of England, which was secured by the West of England Combined Authority.

The council will also contribute £260,000 to support the delivery of the scheme and bus services.