A432 Badminton Road Bridge

Simon Lightwood Excerpts

Wednesday 29th January 2025 Commons Chamber

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Simon Lightwood)]

It is a pleasure to respond to the important points raised by the hon. Member for Thornbury and Yate (Claire Young) and by my hon. Friend the Member for Filton and Bradley Stoke (Claire Hazelgrove). I thank the hon. Member for Thornbury and Yate for securing the debate on such an important matter: the replacement of the A432 Badminton Road M4 overbridge.

Safety on our roads is of the upmost importance, which is why the Government have announced that we intend to publish a new road safety strategy, the first in over a decade. Work is already underway on that. The maintenance and renewal of vital structures on our roads is also of the utmost importance and contributes to the safety of everyone who uses the strategic road network.

I note from the hon. Member’s efforts to secure a debate on this subject that she is indeed a strong advocate for her constituents, businesses and road users—as is my hon. Friend the Member for Filton and Bradley Stoke—and she has been campaigning extensively to see improvements and to see how quickly this vital structure over the M4 can be replaced with minimal impact on local people and businesses, and to protect the safety of everyone who uses it.

Our strategic road network is the backbone of our country’s economy. With 4,500 miles of motorways and major A-roads, it connects people, builds communities, creates opportunities and helps the country to thrive. Although it makes up only 2.4% of England’s overall road network, it is the most heavily used and carries a third of all traffic and two thirds of all freight.

Investment in our strategic road network is made through the road investment strategy process, which is focused on creating a road network that is safe, accessible and reliable for all road users, and which addresses its impacts on those who use it and live near it. We are committed to putting road transport at the heart of our mission-driven Government, transforming infrastructure so that it works for the whole country, unlocking growth, promoting social mobility and tackling regional inequality.

The hon. Member for Thornbury and Yate may be aware that locally managed roads make up 98% of the road network, and that almost every journey starts and ends on a local road. We understand how critical it is to keep the local road network functioning as this promotes growth locally and nationally and has a daily impact on the lives of millions of people. Where these local roads interact with the strategic road network, we aim to ensure that that is seamless and there is minimal impact on local people and businesses, while recognising safety needs.

The A432 M4 overbridge has been closed since July 2023, following a detailed structural survey conducted by National Highways. The survey identified accelerated deteriorations and cracking on the underside of the bridge. As the hon. Member will understand, the safety of all road users is paramount, and a decision was made to close the bridge to traffic while maintaining access for cyclists and pedestrians.

I understand the concerns that the hon. Member may have due to the length of the closure, but I want to highlight that this is a complex scheme that has involved numerous specialists, including utility providers, in preparation for the demolition to begin. The demolition is planned for March this year, with a new bridge planned to open for motorists early next year.

The hon. Member called for the work to be expedited and I can assure her that National Highways has already worked hard to accelerate many of the activities that support the replacement, to ensure that the bridge is available for the community as soon as possible. Indeed, I have been talking to National Highways and understand that normally a project of this scale would take about five years, whereas the period for this project is three years. My Department will continue to engage readily with National Highways as the project progresses.

I am sure that the hon. Member will understand that National Highways has no intention of inconveniencing road users, but it accepts that, due to the nature of this type of work, and especially when road closures are necessary, some level of disruption is unavoidable. I understand the concern that there will be a period when no crossing of any kind is possible over the M4 on Badminton Road.

As I mentioned, the hon. Member is a strong champion for local businesses in her constituency and has called for compensation due to the impact of traffic diversions. National Highways provides compensation as required by legislation across its projects and schemes. The compensation arrangements generally cover permanent adverse impacts, and the generally held principle is that the public purse does not compensate businesses for loss of earnings due to temporary road works.

National Highways has worked with South Gloucestershire council on funding and implementing the traffic management it requires on its network. Mitigation provided includes significant volumes of static signing, variable electronic message signs and temporary traffic signals. The diversion routes used during the A432 closure have been agreed with the council and are the optimum routes available. The council will have considered the impact of the reassigned traffic, its implications and the limited alternatives available on its network. None the less, I understand the hon. Member’s views on the impact that increased traffic may have on local roads that are not designed for heavy traffic volumes. However, the strategic and local road networks use each other when diversion opportunities are for mutual benefit.

I assure the hon. Member that National Highways will continue to work with South Gloucestershire council to ensure that works are completed efficiently and to mitigate, as much as is practically possible, the disruption caused by the closure of the bridge. That includes working with South Gloucestershire council to refine the traffic management arrangements on local roads.

I want to take this opportunity to affirm that National Highways has a robust inspection regime, ensuring the delivery of a safe and reliable motorway and trunk road network in England. It has a programme of structural inspections, investigations and assessments to ensure that potentially vulnerable structures are identified, that safeguarding measures are adopted and that maintenance works are programmed and prioritised. National Highways inspects all its bridges and other structures in line with the published guidance in the design manual for roads and bridges. That includes a general visual inspection every two years and a more detailed principal inspection every six years, which identifies and records defects in reinforced concrete, steelwork and other construction materials.

Where necessary, further investigations, which may include material tests, are undertaken to establish the extent, severity and specific causes of the defects. If maintenance works are required, they are prioritised and the necessary repairs are carried out to ensure that the structure remains safe and fit for purpose. National Highways applies any lessons learned on challenging projects across the organisation as standard practice. However, it is worth mentioning that inspection is based on standards set out in the design manual for roads and bridges.

Protecting the safety of all road users will always be a priority of this Government. Road safety is a shared responsibility, and it is important that we all recognise the part we can play as it cannot be achieved in isolation. Disruption will occur when action must be taken to address safety issues on the network, but we also acknowledge that maintenance of our roads ultimately benefits the whole community.

I thank the hon. Member for Thornbury and Yate once again not only for securing the debate, but for the important points she has raised and for her campaigning on behalf of her constituents. I also thank my hon. Friend the Member for Filton and Bradley Stoke for her contribution. I reassure the hon. Member for Thornbury and Yate that I take this matter seriously and will aim to continue the conversation to see what we can achieve to provide a positive outcome for road users in the short and long term.

Question put and agreed to.