M4 Junction 18a and link road

Please note that this consultation is now closed. 

The consultation material can still be viewed by clicking on the links further down this page.

March 2018 update

South Gloucestershire Council’s Cabinet considered the outcome of the M4J18a study at their next meeting on 12 March 2018.  The report considered by Councillors at the meeting is available to view here (under item 9).  The report recommends to the Cabinet members that they support the Western Option (option 1) as the preferred location for the new junction and link and this was agreed at the meeting.

The draft Strategic Outline Business Case (SOBC) (also known as the feasibility study) documentation is available to view by clicking on the links below. Please note that all documents are in pdf format and some are large in size and may therefore take several minutes to download depending on internet connection speed.

Draft Strategic Outline Business Case (SOBC) main report

Draft SOBC Appendix A – Phase 1 Report, including Economic Baseline Report

Draft SOBC Appendix B – Scheme drawings

Draft SOBC Appendix C – Option Assessment Report (OAR)

OAR Appendix A – Draft Environmental Baseline Report part 1

OAR Appendix A – Draft Environmental Baseline Report part 2

OAR Appendix A – Draft Environmental Baseline Report part 3

OAR Appendix A – Draft Environmental Baseline Report part 4

OAR Appendix B – Draft Options for Assessment

Draft SOBC Appendix D – Consultation Report

Draft SOBC Appendix E – Combined Modelling & Appraisal Report

Draft SOBC Appendix F – Quantified Risk Assessment

Draft SOBC Appendix G – Preliminary Environmental Risk Assessment

Draft SOBC Appendix H – Economic Impacts & Regeneration Assessment

Draft SOBC Appendix I – Project Management Plan

2017 consultation on M4 Junction 18a and link road

The emerging Joint Transport Study for the West of England has identified a range of improvements to the transport networks in the region, including the need for a new motorway junction between M4 Junction 18 and Junction 19 (Junction ‘18a’), and an associated link road to the A4174 Ring Road. The scheme would help tackle congestion problems in the north-east fringe of Bristol and help businesses operate more efficiently.

The Department for Transport (DfT) has provided funding for the feasibility study to South Gloucestershire Council. DfT has a set process for assessing whether a transport scheme should go ahead, which South Gloucestershire Council, working in partnership with Highways England (the organisation responsible for motorways), must follow.

An important part of the study process is to examine alternative route options, to assess how they meet the scheme objectives, if they are feasible, provide value for money, and would be deliverable. This is called the feasibility stage and as part of this we are working on a feasibility study.

The results of public consultation will help to inform the feasibility study report which will be published in March 2018.

We would like to hear your views on the potential concepts for the location of the new junction and link road, plus directly associated improvements to the existing transport networks.

After the consultation closes on 16 October 2017, further work will be carried out to analyse the responses. Work on the finalised feasibility study is not due to be completed until March 2018 therefore these proposals are at a very early stage and no formal decisions have been taken. Subject to feasibility, funding and consent, the junction and link road would be built from 2025.