Bristol City Council and South Gloucestershire Council have teamed up on a project to make a five and a half mile stretch of the A432 safer and more accessible for all road users.
The two councils are proposing a range of safety measures along the A432, starting from where it meets the A4174 in South Gloucestershire, heading southwest through busy high streets in Downend, Fishponds and Easton.
Just over two miles of the route falls within South Gloucestershire, including Badminton Road and Downend Road, and three miles falls within the city of Bristol, including Fishponds Road and Stapleton Road.
The councils are asking for feedback on proposals that include:
- Reducing some speed limits from 30mph to 20mph
- New and improved pedestrian crossings
- Measures to slow down traffic
- New road markings and signage.
The project aims to improve driver behaviour on the A432, to significantly reduce the chance of road traffic incidents, especially serious ones.
Over a three-year period there were 140 collisions on the A432, including 1 fatal, 11 serious and 128 slight collisions, resulting in 149 casualties.
Modelling has shown the measures could reduce the most serious incidents by over 30 per cent on some roads.
Councillor Chris Willmore, Cabinet Member for Transport at South Gloucestershire Council, said: “This is one of the busiest routes in our area, and we know that safety is a real concern for residents and businesses. These proposals are designed to make the road safer for everyone and provide improvements to encourage more people to walk, wheel, cycle or use public transport.
“Please let us know your thoughts, your feedback is vital to help us get this right.”
Councillor Ed Plowden, Chair of the Transport and Connectivity Committee at Bristol City Council, said: “The A432 has a poor safety record, and we want to make it safer and to feel more welcoming for everyone – whether you’re walking, wheeling, cycling or driving.
“The proposed road safety measures are designed to reduce collisions and make it easier for people to move around more safely and reliably. They also support our climate goals by encouraging more sustainable travel.
“I encourage people across both areas to take part in the consultation and tell us what matters most to you.”
The £2.27 million scheme is being funded by the Department for Transport through its Safer Roads Fund, after the Road Safety Foundation highlighted that the A432 route between the A4174 and Bristol city centre posed a significant risk of fatal and serious injuries.
The A432 Safer Roads survey is running until midnight on Friday 13 February 2026.
To find out more give your views visit bristol.gov.uk/a432-safer-road-survey.
