The right-hand turn out of Heron Way onto Kennedy Way in Chipping Sodbury has been reinstated after years of campaigning, in a victory for local campaigners.
The works mean that vehicles can now turn right out of Heron Way and will no longer have to drive down Kennedy Way towards Yate Shopping Centre if they are heading in the other direction, which had been contributing to significant gridlock in the centre of Yate.
Improvements at the junction include smart sensor traffic lights to help manage traffic flow and a separate set of lights for cyclists to enhance their road safety.
Luke Hall, alongside local residents, has been campaigning to re-introduce a right-hand turn since 2017, supported by hundreds of residents who filled in Luke Hall’s survey and signed a community petition.
Campaigners took this petition to South Gloucestershire Council, sharing the feedback that they had received from residents. The Council subsequently confirmed that they would re-open the right-hand turn and, easing congestion at the Scott Way roundabout and allowing quicker pick-up times for local parents and pupils, and enhancing commuters access to the A432 and M4.
Following the reopening of the right-hand turn, residents have reported they are pleased the work has been carried out and believe it should ease traffic congestion building up at the Scott Way/Kennedy Way roundabout at peak times.
Sodbury Town Councillor, Cllr Becky Romaine commented: “We are delighted that works to reinstate the right-hand turn from Heron Way onto Kennedy Way have been completed after our local campaign. This will help get Chipping Sodbury and Yate moving, create a greener road network, and prevent knock-on congestion in our local towns and villages.”
Local MP Luke Hall commented: “Re-opening the right-hand turn off Heron Way has been a key part of my Positive Plan for Transport in South Gloucestershire for a long time, and I am delighted that the works are now complete. This is thanks to many years of hard work and pressure from our community, and I am glad their efforts have been rewarded. This gets us one step further to getting South Gloucestershire Moving!"
The Heron Way Right-hand project has been a key part of Luke Hall MP’s Positive Plan for Transport and is the latest step to help reduce congestion in Yate and in turn improve the air quality in the town.
