More than £23 million has been committed to upgrading a historic UK road that has been open for 100 years, with critics claiming it will become the "world's most expensive bus lane." The A4 Portway in Bristol, which opened on July 2, 1926, is a five-mile route following the Avon Gorge.
The upgrade includes 24-hour bus lanes, better junctions, resurfacing and improved paths for pedestrians and cyclists. However, the plans have been criticised, with one local councillor dubbing the cost a "colossal amount of money."
Historic Road's Original Cost
When it originally opened, the A4 Portway was widely considered the UK's, and even the world's, most expensive and ambitious road project mile-for-mile. The initial cost amounted to £800,000, while construction played a crucial role in post-war employment, providing work for an average of 800 returning soldiers each day.
The construction involved blasting tens of thousands of tons of solid rock, building a six-arch viaduct and erecting riverbank retaining walls.
Current Works and Criticism
Further improvement works are currently ongoing, with the overall cost expected to top £23 million. It will continue until May 2027, with overnight resurfacing taking place between Bridge Valley Road and Hotwell Road.
However, the Bristol Conservatives previously blasted the work as an "appalling waste of public money." They argued that it will eventually make it harder for vehicles to get around the city.
As reported by Bristol Live, Stockwood Councillor Jonathan Hucker, Conservative, said: "The Portway is costing a colossal amount of money. When it opened 100 years ago in 1926, the Portway was the world's most expensive road.
"It cost £800,000 then to construct – £42million in today's money. So I would be interested to see how that compares with the Portway project today.
"When it was the world's most expensive road then, I suspect it will have the world's most expensive bus lanes when the project is finished."
Funding and Support
It was agreed in February that the project's budget would increase from £21.7 million to £23.1 million. It is being funded by the West of England Combined Authority (Weca).
Despite criticism from the Tories, the Labour Party has backed the road project. Meanwhile, the Green-led Bristol Council have further embraced the plans.
The A4 Portway, which runs from the M5 at Avonmouth, through the Avon Gorge, onto Hotwells Road, replaced the Bristol Port Railway trackbed in 2026. It transformed regional shipping logistics by improving links from industrial ports to the city centre.
It remains a critical road in the city, serving as the primary route into Bristol. It also passes under the iconic Clifton Suspension Bridge.
