Work underway on bus priority measures

Work on the next stage of Bath & North East Somerset Council’s £60 million joined-up plan to help tackle traffic congestion across the district is underway on the A367, Bath.

The Council is further extending the bus priority measures on the A367 to link-up with the A367 Odd Down bus lane with new sections of bus lane at congested points, improved crossing points, and intelligent traffic signals. An estimated 875,000 bus passengers every year travel on the 173, 178, 179, and 184 services which use Odd Down bus lane. These services will benefit from the further enhancements. The 41 Park and Ride, 13, and 267 also will benefit from the extension to the improvements.

Councillor Charles Gerrish (Conservative, Keynsham North), Cabinet Member for Customer Services, said, “The start of works represents the next step in Bath & North East Somerset Council’s plans to help tackle congestion by making bus travel a more attractive option. Traffic throughout much of the day, particularly during morning peak time, is stacked nose-to-tail on the A367. Scheduled services and Odd Down Park and Ride Buses will be more able to travel past queues of traffic getting passengers to Bath city centre more quickly and reliably once the project is complete. The improvements will link with the existing half mile stretch of bus lane at Odd Down which benefits bus services coming from Peasedown St. John, Midsomer Norton, and Radstock by bypassing queues in moments.” 

The Council has consulted closely with local residents about the details of the scheme and most issues raised were resolved. The exact improvements taking place over the next 8 weeks are as follows:

· Additional inbound lengths of bus lane where Bear Flat approaches Wells Road and on the approach to the Wellsway/Hatfield Rd/Greenway Lane junction with signalisation of this junction to allow bus priority;

· Short length of bus lane at the lower end of Bloomfield Road allowing buses to have priority when merging with the Wellsway at Bear Flat;

· A new pedestrian refuge will also be provided at Bear Flat, allowing safer crossing of the road adjacent to an upgraded bus stop.

The improvements also have support from transport lobby groups and bus operators. Jenny Raggatt, Spokesman for the Campaign for Better Transport, said, “Making bus journeys more reliable is key to making bus travel a more viable option for people commuting to Bath from outside the city. Campaign for Better Transport support these improvements and all of those taking place throughout the Greater Bristol Bus Network, like the past improvements to the Hicks Gate roundabout, Keynsham which have improved bus travel.”

Justin Davies, Managing Director of First Somerset and Avon, said: “The Odd Down bus lane is making a positive difference for First Somerset and Avon passengers travelling to Bath. The benefit for journey times and punctuality will improve even further once the improvements on Wellsway and Bear Flat are complete.”