Plans have been revealed for a major new road layout to replace Temple Circus roundabout near Temple Meads station with Bristol City Council claiming it will be better for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists.
The area is a vital gateway to the city but for years has become notorious for rush hour traffic gridlock, poor public transport links and semi-derelict buildings. 
Pedestrians and cyclists attempting to get from Temple Meads station to the city centre or walk the Brunel Mile to SS Great Britain have to negotiate busy roads while motorists face a string of traffic lights.
The council this week said the new simplified road layout would create a new public square that will make the area for more pleasant for those on foot or cycling while fewer traffic lights will make the going easier for drivers.
Pictured: Artist’s impression of the new public square that will replace Temple Circus
New buildings are planned, giving a more vibrant feel than at present and opening it up for retail and leisure use. The area – one of the original gateway sites to medieval Bristol – will play a key role in the planned development of an integrated transport hub at Temple Meads and the development of the nearby Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone.
The council this week kicked off a public consultation on the Temple Circus plans and urged businesses to have a say on the proposals, which include:
• A more direct route for traffic with fewer traffic lights
• A new single wide crossing point for pedestrians and cyclists to replace the three road crossings between the station and the Brunel Mile
• Eastbound only traffic on Cattle Market Road to improve the flow of traffic at Bath Bridge junction
• Access to the Friary via a new road link from Temple Back East with a new drop-off point on the Friary for cars and taxis
• Space for new buildings and public square giving life to the area day and night
• Better public transport links with new and upgraded stops, better signage and a new Metrobus stop
• Improvements to cycle routes to better connect with cycle paths being built on Clarence Road and Cattle Market Road and onwards to the wider Bristol cycle network.
Assistant mayor for place including transport Councillor Mark Bradshaw, who unveiled the plans, said: “Creating a first-class welcome to Bristol and better transport links around Temple Meads has been a long held aspiration for the city.
“The area is one of the busiest in the city’s road network and there is currently a poor quality route for pedestrians and cyclists travelling from the station to the city centre. 
“This scheme aims to address these issues and is the first step towards creating a better environment for pedestrians, cyclists and road users around this important gateway to the city.
Pictured: Artist’s impression view along Brunel Mile to St Mary Redcliffe
“We want people to comment on these proposals to help us to develop these ideas into a final scheme.
“In time, as development takes place within the Bristol Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone, this area will become an integrated travel hub where people can easily and conveniently move between different modes of travel.”
The work will be funded by the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) from a Revolving Infrastructure Fund – some £21m of the fund has been allocated to improve transport, cycling and pedestrian routes around the Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone ahead of development in the area. The Bristol Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone is set to create 17,000 jobs over 25 years and will be the home for Bristol’s new arena due to open in 2017.
