A432 Safer Road consultation

Bristol City Council and South Gloucestershire Council are working together to make a five and a half mile stretch of the A432 safer and more accessible for all road users.

What changes are being proposed?

We are prioritising measures that would make the biggest difference to road safety on each stretch of the A432.

Proposals include:

• Introducing new 20mph speed restrictions on the A432, including Downend high street and surrounding residential streets where there are more pedestrians.
• Installing new zebra crossings in areas of high footfall to make it safer for people to cross the road.
• Narrowing junctions to reduce crossing distances for pedestrians and to reduce the speed at which vehicles enter and exit these junctions.
• Installing and upgrading pedestrian crossing points to improve safety.
• Introducing double yellow lines to prevent problematic parking.
• Adding new road markings and signage to give all road users clarity.

Why are these changes being put forward?

In their ‘Crash Risk Mapping’ exercise in 2023, the Road Safety Foundation highlighted the number of reported collisions on a stretch of the A432 and concluded that the route between the A4174 and Bristol city centre posed significant risk of fatal and serious injuries.

Between 1 August 2020 and 1 August 2023 there were 140 collisions on the A432, including 1 fatal, 11 serious and 128 slight collisions. This resulted in 149 casualties. Pedestrian casualties included 1 fatal, 6 serious and 26 slight. Cyclist casualties included 3 serious and 32 slight.

Bristol City Council and South Gloucestershire Council were invited to bid for funding from the Department for Transport’s Safer Roads Fund for measures to reduce the risk of fatal and serious injuries.

The scheme put forward as part of this consultation prioritises measures which could have the most significant impact. Modelling has shown that, taken together, they could reduce the most serious incidents by over 30 per cent on some roads.

By creating a safer environment for pedestrians and cyclists, the proposed measures are also expected to deliver wider benefits, including reducing congestion and lowering emissions.  

How would the scheme be paid for?

The £2,27 million scheme is being funded by the Department for Transport through its Safer Roads Fund.

Bristol City Council will receive £1,187,500 through the Safer Roads Fund and South Gloucestershire Council will receive £1,087,500.

This funding cannot be spent on council services, such as housing.

How does this scheme link in with other proposals?

These proposals are a standalone scheme using funds awarded through the Department for Transport’s Safer Roads Fund, which were instigated with the aim of improving road safety on a route which had been identified as having too many incidents resulting in fatalities or serious injuries.

However, the route links and supports the aims of other proposals to improve walking, wheeling and cycling along the A4174 and A432 to Yate. Taken together, we expect the improvements on the A4174 and A432 will open safer active travel opportunities for many more people, including vulnerable road users.

When could the measures be implemented?

The scheme is at a relatively early stage but, depending upon the result of this consultation, it is hoped that the proposed scheme could be implemented during the 2026 and 2027 financial year.

About this survey

This survey is split into four sections, each describing and asking for your views on different aspects of the proposals:

• Section 1 describes the aims of the scheme
• Section 2 focuses on proposals for new 20mph speed restrictions on the A432 and surrounding roads
• Section 3 focuses on the proposals for five new pedestrian crossings
• Section 4 focuses on other changes to road safety infrastructure

All questions are optional - you can skip any you do not wish to answer. You can also save and come back later to finish the survey. Please make sure you click 'Finish survey' on the last page and submit your response before midnight on Friday 13 February 2026.