29 September 2025
Bus Route 2
The project includes upgrading the traffic signals for all road users, improving active travel routes, and creating more accessible crossings for pedestrians and cyclists.
Work includes:
replacing the outdated three-way traffic signals, which are hard to maintain and can have problems detecting vehicles, which can lead to traffic building up upgrading the pedestrian and cycle crossing, including better facilities for visually impaired pedestrians increasing the amount of pedestrian space by removing the left turn slip road out of Canons Road improving cycling links between Park Street and the city centre
Councillor Ed Plowden, Chair of the Transport and Connectivity Committee, said:
“These works to improve the junction of College Green and Canons Road is one of a series of projects that will improve people’s journeys across the central areas of the city. From the A4 Portway and Passage Road, to Bath New Bridge and Whiteladies Road, we’re ramping up the investment in our highways network to provide people with more reliable journeys on more sustainable infrastructure.”
“This particular junction is one that is in need of an upgrade, with signals that are no longer fit for purpose and a layout that creates risk for pedestrian and motorist alike. As with any work, especially in such a central and busy location, it will cause some disruption, and I’d like to thank everyone who travels through the city centre for their patience throughout these essential works.”
Temporary signals that will be responsive to traffic build ups will be in place and access for all road users, including cyclists and pedestrians, will be maintained throughout the works.
Diversions will be needed at times, starting with temporarily removing the left turn out of Canons Road towards Park Street. Drivers will need to follow the signposted diversion via Park Row, or they could choose to go via Anchor Road and Jacobs Wells Road instead. There will still be the ability to turn left out of Canons Road onto College Green once the works have been completed.
More diversions will be needed later in the project, including for drivers heading to Park Street along St Augustine’s Parade, who will be diverted via Anchor Road and Jacobs Wells Road, as well as an overnight road closure to resurface the whole junction, when traffic will also be diverted via Anchor Road and Jacobs Wells Road or via Park Row.
Plans to refurbish the College Green and Canons Road junction are included in the A37 and A4018 transport corridor project, which follows the route of the number 2 bus service from Henbury to Stockwood. However, this work is being brought forward separately because of concerns that the traffic signals on the junction could fail because of their age.
Helen Godwin, the new Mayor of the West of England, said:
Getting the basics right by fixing our region’s roads and bridges now, and improving walking, wheeling, and cycling choices, will lay the foundations for a better transport system overall for the West of England. Last month, we secured £752 million for that next stage. That means that the West can get out of the slow lane on transport and start to catch up with other city-regions, with better buses, more trains, and mass transit – with trams and much more on the table.”
The work to refurbish the junction is expected to cost around £1 million and be completed by the end of 2025. It is being funded by the UK government as part of the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement, secured by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority.