St James's Parade and Ambury Gyratory

Buses are an integral part of the solution to the transport challenges we face – but they need to be quick and reliable.

One of the biggest causes of delays to buses in Bath is right at the beginning and end of their journeys in the roads closest to Bath Bus Station. Congestion along Dorchester Street, the Ambury Gyratory*, St James's Parade and Westgate Buildings adds considerable time to bus journeys at busy times.

This has a knock-on effect – making buses late the whole way along their journey, so making them unpredictable and unreliable.

We’ve identified key changes at this pinch point which could help to tackle the delays. These ideas are at an early stage, but we’d like your initial feedback about these concepts so that we can incorporate these into our next stages of design. Nothing is set in stone yet – we will be asking for your comments again when the proposals have been developed further.

_{*The current one way system which runs from Churchill Bridge along Broad Quay, The Ambury, Corn Street and Southgate Street.}

Looking east from Broad Quay towards the bus station (illustrative only)

Looking north from Churchill Bridge (illustrative only)

The proposals

This would give buses direct access to the Bus Station, avoiding any traffic on the Ambury Gyratory
The layout of Churchill Bridge would need to change with a new bus lane being created, and the number of lanes available to general traffic reduced to one in each direction

The current one-way system along the Ambury, Corn Street, Southgate Street and Broad Quay would change (except for the section between Dorchester Street and Churchill Bridge)
A bus and cycle-only route would be created between Dorchester Street and Churchill Bridge
There would be a new right-hand turn only exit from Dorchester Street for general traffic. The exit from SouthGate Car Park would change and also be right-hand turn only
Buses would be able to travel directly in both directions between Bath Bus Station and St James's Parade

Parking and loading spaces at the southern end of St James’s Parade would be extended towards Corn Street with no or very minimal overall impact on parking. This would affect 2 or 3 spaces at most (if any)
Access would be maintained for loading (details are yet to be confirmed)
The bus-only section would only be a very short length of road – somewhere between Westgate Buildings and Amery Lane – but the exact location is not yet known, along with the time of day that it would be in operation, or any other restrictions. (Added 16 November)

A new two-way segregated cycle lane would be created along Churchill Bridge, Broad Quay and towards Dorchester Street. Cyclists would be able to turn right from Churchill Bridge towards the bus and rail stations. These will connect to existing cycle routes and others being developed, and make cycling far safer along these busy stretches of road.

Taxis would be able to use the new bus lanes and bus-only route along St James’s Parade.

General traffic would need to follow alternative less direct routes to city centre locations via Green Park Road. The new bus-only route would have a knock-on effect cross Bath city centre - some streets would be quieter and some busier.