One Path BS5 is a collaborative design project for the Bristol and Bath Railway Path. It seeks to address issues that sometimes arise on the very busy 1.5 mile stretch of the traffic-free path between Clay Bottom and Trinity Street.
Latest project news: January 2022
Work will commence on Monday 31 January 2022.
The busy stretch of Bristol and Bath Railway Path between Trinity Street and Clay Bottom will be upgraded in sections over the coming months.
Once complete, improvements will make the space safer and more accessible for everyone.
Completion is expected in the summer of 2022.
There will be intermittent closures to allow for the series of works and installations to take place.
Where sections of the path are closed, diversions via adjacent streets will be signposted.
These will guide people from one end of a closure to the other.
Closed sections will be reopened when it is safe to do so but in some cases sections may close again at a later date to allow for the completion of works.
The contractor will minimise the impact on path users and neighbours as much as possible throughout this time but please allow extra time for your journeys.
Current closure
Location: Lawrence Hill, from the access point at Lawrence Hill A420/Church Road to access point at Russell Town Avenue.
Date: From Monday 31 January for approximately four weeks.
It is expected that this section will initially need to be closed 24/7 due to the nature of the works but if possible the closure will be lifted outside of working hours and/or at weekends.
Diversion: The signposted diversion follows the path adjacent to Lawrence Hill Roundabout, onto Easton Road to the Easton Community Centre where it re-joins the railway path.
Please note:
- This diversion requires on-road cycling.
- The Brixton Road access point falls within the closed section and is not signposted to the diversion route.
- Users will be directed on or off the path at Easton Community Centre for the diversion. The section of railway path linking Russell Town Avenue with Easton Community Centre will remain open for access.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributers. Microsoft, Esri Community Maps contributors. Map layer by Esri.
Upcoming closures
Construction works are due to extend from the current closure point at Lawrence Hill/Croydon Street towards Newtown Park in the coming weeks.
Week commencing Monday 21 February:
- The existing closure will remain in place.
- Additional localised works are anticipated around St Phillips Causeway underpass. A short diversion may be put in place during these works.
Week commencing Monday 28 February:
- It is expected that the existing closure will be extended, with the diversion starting at Kingsmarsh Way instead.
- Additional work on the section between Trinity Street and Lawrence Hill will mean Hassell Drive is added to the diversion for a limited time during this week.
Please note:
While these are the expected upcoming works, they are subject to change.
Update on previously advertised upcoming closure:
Russell Town Avenue to Easton Community Centre will now remain open throughout the current closure.
Additional notice
Wessex Water has advised that from Monday 14 February for approximately one week, sewer renovation works will be taking place on Rose Green Road. The works will affect the path at Clay Bottom.
It will remain open during this time, but a ramp will be temporarily installed to allow for the work to take place.
Please contact Wessex Water directly with any questions.
Check back here for more upcoming closures and diversions as the works progress.
Frequently asked questions
Why does the path need to be closed?
Due to the restricted width available and the nature of the works, it is not possible to do most of the construction work safely with the path open.
Will the path be open at the weekends and outside of working hours?
The contractor will do their best to open sections whenever possible but unfortunately for safety reasons, it often won’t be possible to re-open sections outside of working hours or at weekends.
Can I still use Newtown Park when that section of path is closed?
Yes. Though the stretch of path adjacent to Newtown Park will be closed, along with the compound area, the park will remain open throughout.
What signs will go up on the upgraded path?
We are in the process of evaluating the Left is Best trial. The outcome will inform the permanent signs that will be installed on this stretch. We will share the results soon.
What will the finished path look like?
Take a look at the path designs below.
More about the One Path: BS5 project
The Bristol and Bath Railway Path has been meeting the needs of the local BS5 community for over 40 years.
It provides a much-loved inner-city green space to enjoy, travel, rest, socialise and reflect in.
In recent years, the popularity of the path has led to issues of conflict between some path users.
Some people have been put off using the path as it’s not felt accessible to them.
In this project, Sustrans has been working in partnership with Bristol City Council and the communities who use and live near the railway path to find solutions.
The project is funded by the Department for Transport through our Paths For Everyone programme, and a contribution from Bristol City Council.
Through a series of workshops, surveys, online and in-person sessions, we worked with different communities to design the solutions required between Clay Bottom and Trinity Street.
The aim of this project is to make the path a safer more inclusive space where no one is excluded.
Take a look at the final designs for the One Path: BS5 project
Download the high-resolution final designs (30MB)
If you’d like to get in touch about this project, please email south@sustrans.org.uk
Find out more about our commitment to creating a network of paths for everyone
