News / Ashton Vale to Temple Meads (AVTM)
Bristol council admits risks over Metrobus
Bristol City Council has admitted the controversial Metrobus system contains a “number of risks” and was “never going to be easy or inexpensive”, after Bristol24/7 revealed a secret report had shown costs for part of the network had soared since the summer
The Ashton Vale to Temple Meads (AVTM) route was estimated to cost £51.2m in July. This overall cost was up from £41.5m estimates made in 2011.
However, the report at City Hall produced for the mayor and cabinet members now says these costs have risen to about £60m.
In a statement, a council spokesperson said the public cabinet report published this month set out that the Metrobus project “remains within the agreed budget but there remain a number of risks as with any major construction project on this scale”.
The spokesman added that a “unique agreement” with the Department for Transport allows Bristol City Council to reallocate funds within the programme, if required, to “ensure the full benefits of the Metrobus network will be realised”.
“Any funding above the agreed limit would require a further cabinet decision to be reached in an open and transparent way.”
But, she added: “Major infrastructure projects are controversial and costly, but creating a network of express Metrobus routes across the Greater Bristol area was never going to be easy or inexpensive.”
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