Transport chiefs are set to spend £6.9million ploughing a six-lane mini-motorway through the middle of the only roundabout on Bristol Ring Road that does not have traffic lights, in a bid to cut congestion and accidents.

South Gloucestershire Council is seeking the views of residents and drivers after the West of England Combined Authority (Weca), which will foot the bill for the project at the A4174 Wraxall Road roundabout in Kingswood, approved nearly £1.5million to develop a full business case

It follows a feasibility study into reducing traffic jams, which have increased since the Lyde Green housing development was built.

Traffic lights will be introduced, but the biggest change is to convert the roundabout, also known as Woodstock roundabout, into a “through-about”, with lanes running through the middle of it.

The approach roads will be widened onto the verges to make room for three lanes in both directions for vehicles on the ring road going straight ahead.

The roundabout plans

South Gloucestershire Council’s consultation document says: “Drivers on each approach will be given priority to enter the roundabout, with the timing of traffic signal phases responding to changes in the use of the junction throughout the day.

“This will enable improved management of any queues during different times of the day with the aim of reducing delays.

“Vehicles making through movements along the ring road will be able to use the new lanes passing through the centre of the current roundabout.”

Council leader Toby Savage told Weca Committee members on Friday, February 15: “The A4174 Wraxall Road roundabout is a significant bottleneck and has been a source of complaints for a number of years.

“I’m very pleased  to see work is continuing on what is a complex junction.

“There are consultation events in the coming weeks to engage with residents directly on the shape of that proposed improvement project.”

The roundabout plans

The council’s consultation paper adds: “The roundabout currently experiences congestion during the busiest hours on weekdays, with queuing on the ring road as well as Tower Lane and Wraxall Road approaches to the roundabout. This includes local bus services.

“The delays are expected to increase as traffic levels grow, mainly due to more housing and jobs planned for the Bristol area.”

It reveals that three other options were rejected —  keeping the roundabout but with traffic signals at all approaches except Wraxall Road; a roundabout with traffic lights at all approaches; and replacing the roundabout with a a traffic-signal crossroads.

A report to last week’s Weca Committee said that on top of the £200,000 cost of the feasibility study and the now-approved £1.5million to produce a full business case, implementing the scheme would require nearly another £5.2million.