A new multi-million pound motorway junction in Avonmouth cannot be used – because developers behind the project have not connected it to the local road network.
The majority of the work on the brand new £50million junction on the M49 was finished in 2019, but it is not yet open to traffic. Instead, it simply leads to a dead end.
The two-bridge junction, which was built by Highways England, is located to the south of the Western Approach Distribution Park and west of Easter Compton.
According to South Gloucestershire Council, the responsibility for building the link road which will provide access to the junction belongs to the developers - Delta Properties.
The unbuilt connector road would join up the distribution park, used by companies including Amazon, Lidl and Tesco, to the main motorway.
A spokesperson for South Gloucestershire Council said: “Now that Highways England has constructed the new junction, the responsibility for building the link road, which will provide access to the junction and the wider network lies solely with the landowner, Delta Properties.
“We have been working to influence and help facilitate construction of the link road and have been in contact with both the landowner and major employers in the area, seeking to ensure that the link is constructed in a timely manner.”
The M49 is a five-mile motorway which forms a link between the M5 at junction 18 and the second Severn crossing - the Prince of Wales Bridge.
Highways England said it had been working with South Gloucestershire Council to try to “progress discussions” with the developer.
Colin Bird, Highways England’s South West Programme Leader, said: “We have completed the main construction of the new junction on schedule, and this will allow local developers to connect into the junction.
“The new junction will be open to traffic once the link roads are completed and connected to the local road network, and South Gloucestershire Council is currently working towards this with developers.”
Once the next phase is completed, the junction will provide a connection into the Avonmouth and Severnside Enterprise Area from the motorway network.
Mr Bird added: "[It will promote] economic growth and unlock the potential of the enterprise area given its strategic importance as a key regional employment site.”
Delta Properties has not responded to a request for comment from Bristol Live .
