Network Rail is warning motorists and bus passengers of a three-day closure of Hatchet Road, in the vicinity of Parkway Station, over the Christmas period. The closure is necessary because a crane needs to be positioned in the carriageway in order to install a large, new signalling structure across the tracks.
The closure will affect local traffic which normally passes under the Parkway railway bridge across all three days, and rail passengers needing to access the station on 24th December (no trains run on 25th or 26th December).
The section of road to be closed stretches from the mini-roundabout at the North Road junction, under the bridge, to the mini-roundabout at the Church Road junction.
The closure means that motor vehicles will not be able to access Parkway Station from Hatchet Road between 6.00am on 24th December until 4.30am on 27th December and will instead need to access the station from the east via Hunts Ground Road.
Walking routes will remain in place for pedestrians. Cyclists may use the walking route, but should dismount.
Public buses will not use the station bus stops during this time. Therefore, station users will need to use the bus stops marked ‘Ratcliffe Drive’ on Hatchet Road (these are the ones north of the roundabout at the junction of Ratcliffe Drive and Sandringham Road). Anyone of limited mobility who requires assistance to travel between the bus stop and the station should look out for the taxi service that will shuttle between the two locations (on 24th December only).
There will be a phone number displayed at the ‘Ratcliffe Drive’ bus stop on Hatchet Road for people with limited mobility to call should they need assistance.
A Network Rail spokesperson said:
“The installation of the signalling structure is part of our Railway Upgrade Plan, improving capacity at Bristol Parkway. A fourth platform, new track layout and overhead electrification equipment have already been installed, paving the way for longer, greener trains and more services.”
“Work to install the structure across the tracks just west of the station will take place while the road is closed to vehicles. However, please note we will not be working between 8.00pm on Christmas Eve and 6.00am on Christmas Day.”
“During the period of the road closure, please leave extra time for your journey, whether travelling by car, bus or on foot.”
For more information, visit the South Gloucestershire page on the Network Rail website.
See also: Hatchet Road closure information sheet (Network Rail)
This article originally appeared in the December 2018 issue of the Stoke Gifford Journal news magazine (on page 15). The magazine is delivered FREE, EVERY MONTH, to over 5,000 homes in Stoke Gifford, Little Stoke and Harry Stoke. Phone 01454 300 400 to enquire about advertising or leaflet insertion.
Information for bus passengers (from First)
Parkway Railway Bridge will now be closed to services 19, 19a and 73 from 06:00 on Monday 24th through to 04:30 Thursday 27th December for bridge repair works. There will also be a crane in place in the car park which is why we had to change the original diversion route for the 24th.
Service 19, 19a & 73 will now operate normal route to Fox Den roundabout then back out onto A4174, past UWE traffic lights. left onto Stoke Gifford by-pass (new road), left into Winterbourne Road, left into Hatchet Road turning at roundabout by Tesco and resume normal route in both directions.
Any passengers that normally board or alight at ‘Brierly Furlong’, ‘Parkway Station’ and ‘Hatchet Lane’ are advised to use the stop ‘Ratcliffe Drive’ on Hatchet Road after the roundabout by Tesco.
(Information correct as of 11:30 Wednesday 19th December. For latest news, visit the Current Issues page on the First website.)
