National Highways is introducing new speed restrictions along the A46 near Bath after the route saw 41 road safety incidents between 2017 and 2021, resulting in 79 casualties, two of which were fatalities.
Avon and Somerset Police, South Gloucestershire Council and Bath and North East Somerset Council all worked with the national roads operator to identify safety issues on the A46 between Bath and M4 junction 18.
Following monitoring and surveys, National Highways is launching a speed reduction scheme, financed through the company’s designated Safety and Congestion Fund.
The project will see:
- the speed limit reduced to 50mph south of M4 J18 to Pennsylvania Village
- the speed limit reduced to 30mph through Pennsylvania Village
- the speed limit reduced to 40mph south of Pennsylvania to Upper Swainswick, where it returns to 50mph.
A speed reduction order has been initiated and the installation of new signage will take place in the coming weeks, with resurfacing and road marking work taking place later in the year, National Highways said.
Sean Walsh, National Highways’ A46 route manager, said: 'We have taken the decision to implement revised speed limits to reduce safety risks along the single lane section between Upper Swainswick and junction 18 of the M4.
'We’re always exploring ways to make our roads safer by using collision data, risk assessments and insights to better understand driver behaviour. The scheme is designed to improve safety for all road users and reduce the number of people harmed on the region’s roads.'
Chief Inspector Rob Cheeseman, of Avon and Somerset Police, said: 'We welcome National Highways’ efforts to improve driver safety on the A46 and their use of data to identify the riskiest stretches of road in the area.
'Inappropriate and excess speed, and not abiding by speed limits, is one of the ‘Fatal Five’ behaviours that most commonly contribute to fatal and serious injury collisions.
'In 2023 and 2024 combined, we attended 872 fatal and serious injury collisions on Avon and Somerset roads. Speed-related factors were identified in 436 of them, so 50%.'
Works programme
The work will start on 24 February and a combination of temporary traffic lights and some overnight closures of the A46, on weeknights only, 8pm to 6am, will be required to complete the work by mid-March.
The A46 north of the Cold Ashton roundabout will be closed overnight:
- Thursday 6 March to Friday 7 March
- Friday 7 March to Saturday 8 March
The A46 south of the Cold Ashton roundabout will be closed overnight:
- Wednesday 12 March to Thursday 13 March
- Thursday 13 March to Friday 14 March
- Friday 14 March to Saturday 15 March
- Monday 17 March to Tuesday 18 March
There will be two main diversion routes during the sign installation work: When the A46 is closed north of Cold Ashton roundabout the diversion will be via the B4465, the A4174 and the A420 back to Cold Ashton.
When the A46 is closed south of the Cold Ashton roundabout the diversion route will be via the A420, the A350 and the A4. Both diversion routes can be travelled in either direction.
