Road plea ‘Fix roundabout or someone will get hurt’
AMINI roundabout that is in “dire need of repair” at what is about to become a key junction for drivers avoiding the Clean Air Zone will not be fixed, because council highways chiefs say there are worse roads that need repairing first.
The junction at the end of North Street, Dean Lane and Cannon Street in Bedminster is already experiencing much greater traffic volumes since the closure of the northbound Malago Road in January, and councillors say it is about to get a lot busier, with the CAZ starting next week.
The road surface across the roundabout is covered in potholes, and council contractors have marked each issue out in pink spray paint – but there is no prospect of the road being resurfaced soon.
Green Party councillors for three wards close to the roundabout have come together to call on the council to sort out the problem, but say their efforts have been in vain.
Since the northbound Malago Road was closed, much of the traffic heading up the A38 towards the city centre has followed a diversion around the roundabout and up to Coronation Road and the Bedminster Bridge roundabout.
When the CAZ begins on Monday, drivers of non-compliant vehicles using what is Bristol’s busiest A road, the A370 Brunel Way, could well come along North Street to avoid the zone, using the miniroundabout in front of the Steam Crane pub.
Councillors from Southville, Bedminster and Windmill Hill say the junction is also an important one for cyclists and scooter riders.
“Residents from all three of the local wards have raised concerns
with us about the state of this miniroundabout junction,” said Green councillor Christine Townsend. “The council is fully aware of the need for work here and has sprayed pink paint to mark out the many potholes that litter this roundabout. All entrance and exit routes for these three main local roads are in dire need of repair.
“I am now worried the situation could become dangerous, and that it’s just a matter of time before there is a serious injury or worse.”
Windmill Hill councillor Lisa Stone said: “I reported these dangerous potholes to the council in 2021, but still over a year later there’s been no progress.”
The councillors have been told by council officials the road surface is “not an immediate danger to the travelling public” and that there are higher priority sites, so there is no timescale for repairing it.
Bristol City Council was asked to comment but had not responded as the went to press.
It’s just a matter of time before there is a serious injury or worse Cllr Christine Townsend