Overview
We are working to improve the number 2 bus route along the A37 and A4018, to make bus journeys more reliable and routes more accessible for pedestrians and cyclists.
The project also sets out to make it easier and more pleasant to walk, wheel and cycle by improving public spaces and making the route more accessible for all road users.
Our aim is to provide a better travelling experience for people who travel actively or by public transport, to encourage more people to choose to make the switch over to sustainable transport, which will help reduce congestion and improve air quality.
It is all part of plans to transform Bristol’s road network, introducing quicker and more reliable bus travel, cleaner air, and improved active travel routes.
About
The project sets out to improve the 13-mile stretch of the number 2 bus route that travels through Bristol on the A37 to A4018, from Henbury in the north to Stockwood in the south of the city.
The aim is to:
- Make the number 2 bus service faster and more reliable and benefit other buses that use parts of this route
- Create quieter, cleaner, greener and safer roads
- Boost the number of people who walk, wheel, cycle and catch the bus
- Support and revitalise high streets by creating attractive public spaces where people want to stop and spend time
- Connect people to jobs, education, services and one another
- Improve local air quality and reduce CO2 emissions from transport
Main plans are
- New bus lanes and bus prioritisation at traffic signals
- A network of joined up separated cycleways
- Improving public spaces with new paving, planting, trees and seating
- Making the route more accessible for pedestrians
- Upgrading bus stops and bus shelters
- Adding delivery bays and disabled parking bays
Early plans for north section of the route
- Installing dropped kerbs and tactile paving at side roads to make it easier to cross the road
- Improving pedestrian crossings at mini roundabouts
- Narrowing the width of some side roads that are unnecessarily wide
Plans for central section of the route
The central section of the route goes from the bottom of Whiteladies Road, down Park Street, through Cabot Circus, over Bristol Bridge, along Victoria Street, past Temple Meads and onto Bath Bridges.
We had planned to prevent through-traffic on Park Street and invest in new public spaces on Queens Road and Park Street, among other changes, but we are no longer taking these plans forward.
The central section of the project now covers Victoria Street, where work is ongoing, and improving Canons Road’s junction with College Green and Bristol Bridge, which have both been completed.
Victoria Street
- Installing a two-way separated cycle path linking up with Bristol Bridge and Temple Gate
- Upgrading Victoria Street’s junction with Counterslip
- Improving and enlarging three bus stops and adding living roofs to two of them
- Improving public space with planting and spaces for seating
- Adding crossing points that are at the same level as pavements
- Resurfacing the road and pavements
Canons Road’s junction
- replacing the outdated three-way traffic signals
- 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
Bristol Bridge
- removing the old traffic signals
- installing a two-way segregated cycle way on the west side of the bridge
- creating a parallel crossing for pedestrians and cyclists linking Castle Park to Baldwin Street
- installing a zebra crossing across Baldwin Street
Plans for south section of the route
- Creating a two-way separated cycle path on part of West Town Lane and Sturminster Road to link Whitchurch Way to Route 3 of the National Cycle Network
- Building a zebra crossing on West Town Lane
- Refurbishing a bus stop on Sturminster Road and moving a bus stop on West Town Lane
- Adding controlled pedestrian crossings at the Wells Road and West Town Lane junction
- New and upgraded crossing infrastructure around Stockwood
- Introducing inbound and outbound 12-hour bus lanes on Wells Road, running from Whitecross Avenue to the junction of Wells Road and West Town Lane
Investment and funding
The number 2 bus route project is being funded by the UK government as part of the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS), secured by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority.
This funding can only be used on projects that boost sustainable transport and cannot be used for council services, such as bin collections, pothole repairs or housing. However, by improving bus and active travel routes, we can invest the money to create inviting public spaces, with new paving, planting and seating.
How we got here
In 2020 we asked for suggested improvements to the number 2 bus route along the A37 and A4018. Based on this feedback we created detailed designs, which we consulted on from November 2021 to January 2022.
We then shared our updated plans for the central section of the number 2 bus route in January 2025.
The route
The number 2 bus route travels through Bristol along the A37 and A4018. This is a 13-mile transport corridor that goes from Henbury to Stockwood.
To the north of the city, the route starts from the south Gloucestershire boundary on Station Road, along Knowle Lane through to Southmead Road, onto Henleaze Road, over the Downs, and onto Whiteladies Road.
In the central section, the route goes from the bottom of Whiteladies Road, down Park Street, through Cabot Circus, over Bristol Bridge, along Victoria Street, past Temple Meads and over Bath Bridges.
Through the south section, the route goes from Three Lamps junction on the A37 and follows Wells Road through Knowle, past Airport Road, onto West Town Lane and into Sturminster Road.
Construction
We are delivering the number 2 bus route project in stages. This is because parts of the route are being constructed at different times as final designs are approved and contractors booked in to do the work.
Here we set out what work has started, when it is likely to complete, and what impact it is having on access for road users, including drivers, public transport, and pedestrians and cyclists.
We have divided the work up into the north, central and southern sections of the 13-mile route.
North section
The north section of the route goes from the South Gloucestershire boundary on Station Road, along Knole Lane through to Southmead Road, onto Henleaze Road, over the Downs and onto Whiteladies Road.
This part of the project is still in development and is expected get underway in late 2026 and early 2027.
Work is expected to start with improving access for pedestrians between Henleaze Road and Knole Lane, including:
- Installing dropped kerbs and tactile paving at 42 side-road junctions
- adding eight refuge islands at three mini-roundabouts
- upgrading two existing crossings
Central section
The central section of the route goes from the bottom of Whiteladies Road, down Park Street, through Cabot Circus, over Bristol Bridge, along Victoria Street, past Temple Meads and onto Bath Bridges.
Parts of the central route have already been built, including improvements to Bristol Bridge and the College Green and Canons Road junction. Work on Victoria Street is continuing until late summer 2026.
Central section – Victoria Street
Work on Victoria Street began in January 2025 and is expected to be completed by late summer 2026.
The lower section is nearly finished, which includes:
- a two-way separated cycle path
- high quality paving
- expanded public spaces
- a crossing point level with the pavement on Bath Street
- a large bus shelter with a living roof
Local businesses between Temple Street and St Thomas Street East are benefitting from wider pavements allowing space for outdoor seating.
Work to create a new layout at Counterslip’s junction with Victoria Street is taking place from June to August 2026. This work has been delayed because scaffolding is blocking the junction.
Victoria Street will remain closed to northbound traffic between Temple Gate and Counterslip until the end of the works.
Buses will continue to operate along Victoria Street with the northbound diversion still in place.
Road resurfacing will take place overnight towards the end of the project in late summer 2026.
Our contractor for these works is ETM. If there’s a problem onsite, email ETM on info@ETM-Group.co.uk or phone 0117 953 3654.
Central section – College Green and Canons Road junction
Work to improve the junction took place in 2025, which included:
- 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
- planting a tree and other plants
South section
The south section of the route starts from the Three Lamps junction on the A37 and follows Wells Road through Knowle, past Airport Road, onto West Town Lane and into Sturminster Road.
South section – Stockwood
Worrk started in November 2025 to improve active travel routes in Stockwood. It is set to be completed by the end of 2026.
It includes:
- Creating a two-way separated cycle path between West Town Lane, where it meets Hither Bridge, and Sturminster Road, where it meets Manston Close. This will link Whitchurch Way to Route 3 of the National Cycle Network.
- Building a zebra crossing on West Town Lane between its junctions with Imperial Road and Hazelbury Road.
- Refurbishing a bus stop on Sturminster Road – a temporary bus stop will be provided.
- Moving the bus stop by Hither Bath Bridge on West Town Lane further up the road to between its junctions with Beryl Grove and Imperial Road. This will allow the pavement on West Town Lane to be shared by pedestrians and cyclists, allowing for an unbroken cycle route from Hither Bath Bridge across to Sturminster Road.
There will be temporary traffic signals in place throughout the works so expect some delays to your journey.
Access for pedestrians and cyclists will be maintained.
The works will impact the number 2, 2a and the 36 and 515.
A small section of Imperial Road will be closed at its junction with West Town Lane for the contractor’s site compound.
South section – Further works in 2026 and 2027
Work in Stockwood will take place in 2026 and 2027 and will be carried out in phases to limit disruption.
It includes adding:
- Controlled pedestrian crossings at the Wells Road and West Town Lane junction
- New and upgraded crossing infrastructure around Stockwood
- Traffic calming measures
- Inbound and outbound 12-hour bus lanes on Wells Road, running from Whitecross Avenue to the junction of Wells Road and West Town Lane
Events
Below you will find a series of upcoming events
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News and updates
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30 June 2025
Bus Route 2
Whiteladies Road to close northbound for flood prevention works
Construction work, to prevent flooding and improve walking and cycling routes on a stretch of Whiteladies Road between its junctions with Tyndalls Park Road/St Pauls Road and Queens Road, will start on Monday 14 July 2025.