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| Route information | |
| Length | 8.4 mi (13.5 km) |
| Major junctions | |
| Northeast end | M48 Junction 1,Aust Interchange |
| Major intersections |  M48 A4 |
| Southwest end | A4 Crowley Way inAvonmouth, nearM5 Junction 18 |
| Location | |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Constituent country | England |
| Road network | |
TheA403 is a main road linkingBristol with theSevern Estuary. It runs from junction 1 of theM48 atAust to the docks atAvonmouth. After theSevern Bridge was opened in 1966, the A403 was constructed in 1969 and 1970 to provide a direct route between theM4 motorway and Avonmouth. It is an important route for the local industries, allowing easy access betweenWales and this part ofEngland. It was financed byGloucestershire County Council with a £387,000 grant from theMinistry of Transport and was initially known as the Avonmouth Aust Coast Road.[1]
The road is8+1⁄2 miles (13.7 km) running throughSouth Gloucestershire and the City of Bristol. Between the M4 at Aust andPilning it replaced the B4055 on a realigned route. Between Pilning andChittening it followed a new route beside theICI Severnside plant, and from Chittening to Avonmouth it followed the route of an existing unclassified road, St Andrews Road. At Avonmouth it connects with theA4, leading to thePortway.[2] The road disrupted local communities, with Pilning being split in two sections.[3] It runs near the proposed Avonmouth and Severnside Enterprise Area, planned for expansion by Bristol City Council.[4] When completed, the road will have a junction with the M49 motorway (Junction 1) reducing the amount of heavy traffic passing through local communities.
Around 8,000 vehicles a day use this road. Although this is relatively low, a high proportion of traffic consists ofheavy goods vehicles (HGVs); over five times the average.[5][4] The A403 has had a poor safety record with numerous accidents. A particular problem has been HGVs parked at laybys along the road obscuring the view ahead, leading to several fatalities. South Gloucestershire Council reduced the speed limit on their section to 50 mph in 2007.[6] Bristol City Council have announced plans to install better facilities for cyclists along the road.[4]
51°33′09″N2°39′56″W / 51.55237°N 2.66547°W /51.55237; -2.66547
