Planned Bath traffic works disasters, March 1 onwards.

[Huff]

Prompted by the thought that tomorrows half-marathon will cause its usual minor temporary upset it occurs to me that, as a public service, here is an idea of the ways in which driving across/through Bath is likely to be more-miserable-than-usual for the next six months or so.

1. The A36 will be closed from MONDAY 2 MARCH between Brassknocker hill junction with A36 and Hantone Hill, Bath (3miles) for the next 16-20 weeks while slope stabilisation works (finally) take place. Expect a complete mess with heavy good routes being diverted via Chippenham (yes, really)

2. (A4 / A46) City approach from the east: the A4 London Road works - ludicrous narrowing of lanes/lane choice, and still no end in sight.

3. (A36 link) City approach from the east / Widcombe high street: bypass works -nope, no end in sight.

4. City centre: Midland Road Bridge is now ONE WAY ONLY, westbound from Green Park, for the next 33weeks while 'critical' maintenance works take place. Bus and all incoming- routes from Lower Bristol Road are now routed along all the way in to Churchill bridge and then back out via Green Park Road. Be warned!

However -
(a_ Green Park lights are often signalled down to reduced-width for the next year or so while the student housing scheme is built-out at Green park, AND
(b) Green Park Road itself is due to be diverted across the coach park and Avon street car park site (once demolished, which is near-term) this year anyway as part of the Bath Quays/riverside regeneration project. They've already cut the riverside trees down, angling works have started.

BANES will no doubt handle this conjunction of elements with their customary consideration & attention to detail - so expect a complete monumental f*ckup for a year or so.


Summary: four of six arteries are sclerotic for the foreseeable. If you wish to enter or leave Bath in the next 9 months, throw a double-six to start.

[rs1952]

Huff said:

Summary: four of six arteries are sclerotic for the foreseeable. If you wish to enter or leave Bath in the next 9 months, throw a double-six to start.

Bath has been a fecking nightmare to drive around for all the time I have been driving (since 1968) and I dare say those older than me would say that it wasn't any better before then.

The basic problem is and always has been that Bath is not "bypassable" (if that is a word!) without great expense because of the terrain. I recall a scheme in the 60s to provide a Bath bypass in tunnel under some of the hills that surround the place, but needless to say that never happened on grounds of cost.

I live in Chippenham and if I ever want to go to central Bath I always go by train, and have done so for the last 25 years. If I want to go to somewhere away from the centre (I go to Combe Down now and again) I go over the Bathampton toll bridge and up Bathwick Hill. Alternatively if I want to go to somewhere like the RUH, I go over Lansdown and into Weston (a road that has been in the local news just lately, of course)

Anybody who ever drives in central Bath when they don't really, really need to, needs, IMHO, to get their bumps felt

[escortcab]

Taken to doing Lansdown Rd and Freezing Hill route for all needs into Bath. Clear as a bell

[Six Fiend]

Ah, now I know why you're called Huff

In town coffee offer still on? I'm up and down to the big house this week in Silent Geoff.

[jmorgan]

I hate going to Bath at the best of times. Loverly place, just the traffic is a mare. When there for pleasure we do use the park and ride, for work though, we just add several hours to the issue.


Damn.