This page provides answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about the Temple Gate project. If you have any further questions, please contact templequarter@bristol.gov.uk.
Benefits and funding
The current road layout around Temple Gate acts as a significant barrier for people moving between Temple Meads station, the Enterprise Zone and the wider city, preventing regeneration of the wider area. The quality of the public realm is poor and does not provide a good welcome to city. This scheme will provide a better way of managing the traffic, benefiting road users whilst giving more space to pedestrians and cyclists, as well as creating opportunities for new buildings and a public square.
The scheme is funded from the Revolving Infrastructure Fund, administered by the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership.
Main construction commenced on 26 June 2017 and is due to finish by Autumn 2019.
Scheme design
- A more direct road layout by removing the Temple Circus roundabout and replacing it with a simplified junction;
- High quality pedestrian and cycle routes and a new single stage crossing from Brunel Mile to the station;
- New and relocated bus stops and shelters with improved information and facilities for passengers;
- Bus priority lanes to improve bus journey times and reliability into and around the city;
- Changes to the Bath Bridge junction to improve pedestrian and cycle routes;
- Space freed up for regeneration and renewal.
A summary of the main changes resulting from public consultation on the scheme can be found on this page.
The new arrangement has been designed to accommodate the same levels of road traffic. Journey times for cars and other vehicular traffic through the area following the improvements are predicted to be similar to the current arrangement. However, the junction will be easier to manage in heavy traffic.
The new arrangement will result in significant improvements for pedestrians moving between Temple Meads station and the city to the west. Currently, pedestrians are faced with up to three road crossings to move across Temple Gate. This will be replaced with a single wide pedestrian and cycle crossing point that can be crossed in one single green phase.
The extended Brunel Mile and simplified single crossing of the highway will benefit cyclists and better connect with the Enterprise Zone, Temple Meads station and the Bristol to Bath cycle path. Sections of segregated cycle way will be provided, and improved crossing facilities linking Cattle Market Road to Clarence Road will improve connectivity to the heart of the Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone.
Bus journeys will be more reliable as a result of changes proposed by the scheme and journey times through this part of the network will be reduced. Shelters, seating and passenger transport information will be upgraded and some bus stops will be relocated.
There is no plan to move the bus station from its current location. This proposal is a first step towards making this important gateway work better as a transport hub where people can easily move from one mode of transport to another. As further regeneration takes place in the Enterprise Zone there will be further opportunities to improve the area as a transport hub.
The MetroBus stop will be a short walk to Temple Meads station, across one single crossing.
We have considered allowing a right turn from the south into the station but found the addition of a right-turn lane would cause significant traffic delays. Traffic will be able to access the station from the south using routes from Bedminster Bridge via Redcliffe Way.
There will still be direct access to the Friary for traffic heading south along Temple Way and also from Victoria Street.
Preventing westbound traffic from using Cattle Market Road will improve the flow of traffic at Bath Bridge Junction. Access for eastbound traffic will stay the same.
Our contractor for the Temple Gate scheme is Eurovia.
Keeping informed
The latest developments will be posted on this website, on our Twitter feed @TempleQuarter and in our monthly Temple Quarter newsletter. You can also follow our contractor on Twitter, @Eurovia_Cont. The latest information about road closures and traffic disruption during the build phase can be found on this page.