As regular commuters may have noticed work has got under way on the A38 near the Aztec West roundabout.

The layby between the motorway and the roundabout is being converted into an extra lane to cut down on congestion at a cost of almost half-a-million pounds.
News of the plan was first published by the Examiner back in November.

The Highways Agency says it will take until March to complete but the work will mostly be carried out overnight to cut down on congestion.

Highways Agency project manager, Mark Arberry, said: “We are creating more capacity for traffic leaving the M5 at Junction 16 by converting the lay-by on the southbound A38 into an extra lane.

“This will not only cut the queues, especially during the morning rush hour, but it will also make the route safer and less congested.”

The downside, of course, is that the fast food van can no longer park there. If anyone knows where it has gone, please do let us know!

The problems for Gipsy Patch Lane continue with drivers starting once again to do a dangerous u-turn around queues.

As cars drive northbound on Gloucester Road North and pull off past Filton Airfield many are turning near the Post Office traffic lights.

Some motorists are also driving past stationary traffic at breakneck speed in a bid to avoid queuing.

The Examiner has been keeping an eye on the problem since the summer after a reader tipped us off.

It seemed as if the problems had subsided but on Tuesday night the Examiner spotted no less than seven cars in one phase of the traffic lights using the u-turn.

One car had a very lucky escape missing a Post Office van, which had right-of-way, at the junction.

The u-turn is entirely legal but hardly in the spirit of good old British queuing …!

The Highways Agency is planning on installing a second lane between the M5 J16 roundabout and the Aztec West roundabout.

The plan, for the city-bound side of the road, will see the current layby converted to a third lane.

The HA is planning on managing the project to alleviate congestion on the busy junction.

The government department would still have to apply for planning permission from South Gloucestershire Council if the project goes ahead.

A HA spokesman told the BBC website: “Consultation with the council is currently on-going.”

We hear the kebab van, which parks in the layby during the evenings, has started a petition opposing the plans.

The Examiner, out on its morning rounds, noted with some amusement that the Gipsy Patch Lane is leaking.

The whole road was closed during October while it was resurfaced and a new roundabout was built.

Network Rail also spent the month repairing a long-standing problem with leaking rainwater.

But just three weeks after the work was completed, Friday’s torrential downpour has caused the bridge to leak once again.

Consdierable amounts of water were pouring from the middle of the bridge at around 7.15am.

The area’s traffic commissioner has ordered South Gloucestershire Bus and Coach Company to run with less buses as punishment for running defective vehicles.

The Evening Post reports the firm, which runs from Gipsy Patch Lane, will have to run with 15 less buses for a 10 day period.

The punishment comes two inspectors found buses with faults including loose wheel nuts, and problems with passenger seats, seatbelts, lights and doors.

The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency has also issued almost 40 notices to the firm in the past five years.

The company argues that the punishment is unfair as most of the faults are minor and corrected on a daily basis.

Finally, after a month of sheer hell on the roads around Bradley Stoke, Gipsy Patch Lane has reopened.

It was due open again on Monday, but according to one Examiner correspondant Paul, it actually opened for use on Friday.

Says Chris Barke, senior engineer: “The teams on the ground have worked exceptionally hard to complete these works ahead of deadline.

“We have also worked closely with Network Rail to deliver three programmes at the same time, in so doing avoiding further disruption for road users.

“That said we recognise that some inconvenience has been caused and we would like to thank members of the public for their support and patience.”

We’re so happy here at BSE HQ it’s almost untrue. In fact, we might have a little party later. Jelly and ice cream sounds a nice idea.

October 30 update: It’s open again! Hurrah! Here’s what you and us had to say during the closure.

Monday update: The complaints continue to roll in about the traffic hell Bradley Stoke residents are experiencing at the moment.

Since Gipsy Patch Lane closed queues have been going back from Aztec West to as far as Tesco every single morning.

Louisa says: “When attempting to turn right out of Woodlands Lane (past the entrance to the Hilton) onto Bradley Stoke Way the traffic already queuing to get onto the Aztec roundabout and turn left down the A38 doesn’t flow sufficiently enough to allow more than three or four cars out and once you are out and the lights have changed you are stranded in the middle of Bradley Stoke Way.”

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