New Bristol city centre road layout opens to traffic

The new permanent traffic route through Bristol city centre opens on Sunday

The latest stage of Bristol's multi-million pound MetroBus scheme opens later.

A new city centre link between between Baldwin Street and St Augustine's Parade has been created.

The permanent traffic changes will affect routes in and around Colston Avenue, Rupert Street, Anchor Road and Park Street.

MetroBus claims the changes will reduce congestion and create space for public transport, pedestrians and cyclists.

Baldwin Street will be closed on Sunday while road markings throughout the city are repainted.

MetroBus claims the city centre work will improve traffic flow and reduce congestion

The "rapid transit" MetroBus bus scheme is an alliance between the four councils in Bristol, Bath, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset.

It involves three routes: Ashton Vale to Temple Meads, Cribbs Causeway via Emersons Green to the city centre and the South Bristol link between the A370 Long Ashton bypass and Hengrove Park.

It will provide an express bus service on 31 miles (50km) of segregated bus-ways and bus lanes.

The full project is due to be completed by the autumn at a cost of around £216m.

First Bus is expected to operate the scheme.