NEXT month, work will begin on the Wood Hill Junction of the A370 to help make bus travel faster, more sustainable and reliable.

The North Somerset crossroads will be reconfigured to include:

  • A new signalised junction offering bus priority and improved traffic flows in the area;
  • Wood Hill access onto the A370 will be open to all movements, previously left turn only;
  • A new bus lane on A370 Bristol-bound.
  • Provision of crossing points across A370 both east and west of junction and on both Wood Hill and Wrington Road, improving access to pedestrians and cyclists.

The work will be part of the A370 Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP), which aims to make bus travel more appealing.

When complete, the A370, a key corridor for bus improvements, will reduce the longest round-trip journey by between 20 to 25 minutes.

Currently, there are often delays on the junction, which causes disruption to the A1 bus route and traffic heading into Bristol as well as the X5 and A3. 

North Somerset Council will publish a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) this week. The TRO, a legal notice of the planned works, will be advertised for six weeks. Residents can submit a formal response on the council's website.

Cllr Hannah Young, executive member for Highways and Transport at North Somerset Council, said: “Enhancing bus travel along the A370 at the Wood Hill junction is a key as part of the wider BSIP corridor works, which are linked to Queensway, Smallway, Brockley Combe, Backwell and Long Ashton Bypass.

"This corridor is used by several bus routes, including the popular X1 service and currently supports 128,000 passenger journeys every month.

“Ultimately, the total picture of improvements we’re committing to under the Bus Service Improvement Plan will make the experience of travelling by bus faster, greener, more reliable, affordable, sustainable with a significant time saving across the network – and a genuine alternative to the car, for far more people.”

Bus service improvements have also been put in place as part of the BSIP, including:  

  • A new stop at Worle Train Station for the A3, with links to the West Coast main line;
  • The X5 has been re-routed to serve Congresbury, Yatton and Kenn on-route to Clevedon; and Portishead, reconnecting the residents to these key areas;
  • The X1 is now every 15 minutes Monday to Friday and every 20 minutes on Saturday evening and Sundays are still every 30 minutes;
  • A £2 bus fare cap for all passengers;
  • Changes will also help school buses using the corridor, improving journey times.