Road users are being warned to expect off-peak temporary traffic lights on Hatchet Road for the next two weeks, as investigatory work in connection with the Cribbs Patchway MetroBus Extension (CPME) scheme is carried out.
A statement on the CPME page of the Travelwest website states that the work involves digging temporary trial trenches to confirm the location of underground utilities.
South Gloucestershire Council (SGC) announced in April that the investigation would be carried out in late April or May, but no work had taken place by the end of May.
The start date of the roadworks has now been confirmed for Monday 5th June. No explanation has been given for the delay.
A spokesperson for SGC said:
“We will need to close one lane at a time at particular points along Hatchet Road between the Gipsy Patch Lane roundabout and the Ratcliffe Drive roundabout. This will result in temporary traffic lights between 9.30am and 3.30pm on weekdays, avoiding peak traffic times.”
“Vehicles will still be able to travel in both directions but this will be controlled by the temporary traffic lights. We may also need to close particular bus stops for a short period of time when we are digging in close proximity to one. Please note all other bus stops on Hatchet Road will remain open for use at these times.”
A petition calling on South Gloucestershire Council (and the recently elected West of England ‘Metro Mayor’) to abandon the plan for a southbound bus lane along part of Hatchet Road as part of the CPME scheme recently passed the 3,000 signature mark. Opponents say the £2m cost of the bus lane cannot be justified by the minimal journey time savings it will achieve and they object to the “unnecessary destruction of mature trees and hedgerows along both sides of Hatchet Road”.
